Press Release

House Votes to Combat Misinformation from Deepfakes in Elections

Bills supported by Common Cause would strengthen disclosure and reign in the use of synthetic media seeking to influence voters

Boston, MA –  Common Cause Massachusetts today celebrated as the Massachusetts House of Representatives passed legislation the organization prioritized to combat deepfakes and artificial intelligence misuse in political campaigns. This is a significant milestone in the group’s efforts to protect election integrity from digital manipulation.

“In an era where generative artificial intelligence can fabricate convincing audio and video within minutes, our democratic processes face new and serious risks. With today’s action, the House is appropriately responding to those risks,” said Geoff Foster, Executive Director of Common Cause Massachusetts. “Free and fair elections depend on voters having access to accurate information about candidates and the mechanics of voting.”

The bills H.5903 and H.5904 now move onto the Senate for consideration.

This progress builds on Common Cause’s comprehensive, national agenda to counter disinformation and protect voters from manipulation. The organization has championed numerous media and technology reforms to strengthen democracy, including:

  • Fighting for guardrails on artificial intelligence;
  • Defending net neutrality and broadband access; and
  • Protecting independent journalism so we can get the facts and make informed decisions for ourselves.

Learn more about Common Cause’s Media and Technology priorities here.

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