HB 525 Maryland House of Delegates · 2025 Regular Session

Election Law - Influencing a Voter By Dissemination of a Deepfake - Prohibition

HB 525 prohibits using AI-generated deepfakes (synthetic media) to influence voters in Maryland elections. The bill defines "fraud" to include deepfakes - AI-created videos, audio, or images that falsely depict candidates or alter their appearance/speech - to prevent deceptive influence. It bans anyone from intentionally using such deepfakes to sway voting decisions, whether through force, threats, or other means. Violations are misdemeanor offenses punishable by fines up to $5,000 or up to 5 years in prison. This directly affects individuals or groups distributing deepfakes during elections in Maryland.

Issues: ✓ Technology

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Jan 2025

Committee Review

Apr 2025

House of Delegates Passage

Apr 2025

Senate Passage

Governor

Introduced Jan 22, 2025 Last action Apr 4, 2025

Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

First - Election Law - Influence on a Voter's Voting Decision By Use of Fraud - Prohibition → Third - Election Law - Influencing a Voter By Dissemination of a Deepfake - Prohibition · 5 edits

MODERATE

This bill was substantially revised to add specific protections against deepfake technology in elections. The original version focused broadly on fraud and synthetic media, while the new version adds a dedicated section prohibiting the dissemination of deepfakes with fraudulent intent to influence voters. The revision clarifies what constitutes a deepfake, establishes specific conditions for fraudulent intent, and creates exemptions for news media, satire, and technology service providers.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded from a general prohibition on fraud using synthetic media to include a specific, detailed prohibition on deepfake dissemination with fraudulent intent, while adding important exemptions for legitimate uses like news reporting and parody.

DEFINITION

Added a new definition for 'deepfake' that specifies it must be created with generative AI or digital technology to create a realistic but false depiction of a person.

ELIGIBILITY

Added exemptions for news media dissemination, satire or parody, and technology service providers (internet service providers, cloud services, telecommunications networks, and broadcasting stations).

REQUIREMENT

Added specific requirements for establishing fraudulent intent, including that the deepfake must misrepresent material facts, the disseminator must know or be reckless about the deepfake nature, and there must be intent to deceive voters.

Added a new section (16-905) specifically addressing deepfake prohibition separate from the existing fraud section (16-201).

TECHNICAL

Changed the bill title from focusing on 'fraud' to specifically including 'influencing a voter by dissemination of a deepfake'.

Floor votes · House of Delegates Mar 20, 2025

How they voted

125–10

Passed · 4 other

Total votes 139

Mar 20, 2025

D Democratic100

97 Yea 3

97% Yea

R Republican39

28 Yea 10 Nay 1

71% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Apr 4, 2025

Committee

Referred Rules

upper

Apr 3, 2025

Lower · Passed

Third Reading Passed

lower

Apr 3, 2025

Lower · Passed

Favorable with Amendments {

lower

Apr 3, 2025

Lower · Passed

Favorable with Amendments Report by Ways and Means

lower

Mar 20, 2025

House Of Delegates · Passed

House of Delegates Vote: pass (125-10-4)

house of delegates

Jan 22, 2025

Committee

First Reading Ways and Means

lower

17 primary · 0 co-sponsors