On February 4, Legislative Services Assistant Charlotte Fleckenstein testified in support of HB 145 – Election Law – Election Misinformation, Election Disinformation, and Deepfakes.
This bill strengthens Maryland’s election laws by prohibiting deepfakes and other forms of synthetic media intended to interfere with voting, and equipping the State to respond swiftly to election misinformation. This bill maintains a strict focus on materially false information intended to impede the voting process; it does not aim to regulate general political speech or public opinion.
In recent years, the rise of “deepfakes”—manipulated videos, images, and audio generated through artificial intelligence—have threatened voter confidence and the integrity of democratic elections. Consequently, local election officials have faced operational and security concerns – including threats and harassment – that arise when misinformation remains unchecked.
In recent years, the rise of “deepfakes”—manipulated videos,
images, and audio generated through artificial intelligence—have threatened voter confidence and the integrity of democratic elections. As a result, local election officials face heightened pressure, misinformation-driven confusion, and, increasingly, threats and harassment tied to false election narratives.
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