New Jersey criminalizes malicious deepfakes with law inspired by student victim
New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy has signed legislation criminalizing the creation and distribution of deceptive AI-generated media, known as deepfakes. This new law classifies the production and sharing of deepfakes used for unlawful purposes—such as harassment or extortion—as a third-degree crime, punishable by fines up to $30,000 and a maximum of five years in prison. The legislation was partly inspired by Francesca Mani, a Westfield High School student who was targeted with sexually explicit deepfakes shared by peers. Dissatisfied with the school’s response and the lack of existing legal protections, Mani advocated for the creation of this law. New Jersey joins at least 20 other states that have enacted similar legislation to regulate deepfakes, particularly concerning online harassment and election security.
