Massachusetts House Advances Bill to Curb AI-Driven Misinformation

Massachusetts lawmakers are moving swiftly to regulate artificial intelligence in political campaigns, as the state House prepares to vote on legislation targeting AI-generated misinformation. The bill, originally introduced by Representative Tricia Farley-Bouvier, comes in response to growing concerns about technology’s potential to mislead voters ahead of upcoming elections.

The proposed legislation specifically aims to prohibit the distribution of “materially deceptive audio or visual media” designed to damage a candidate’s reputation or confuse voters about election processes within 90 days of an election. This urgent push follows incidents like a recent parody advertisement from gubernatorial candidate Brian Shortsleeve that featured an AI-generated version of Governor Maura Healey’s voice.

“This technology is evolving rapidly, and it’s our responsibility to ensure our electoral process maintains its integrity,” House Speaker Ron Mariano and House Ways and Means Chair Aaron Michlewitz said in a joint statement. They emphasized the legislature’s duty to adapt quickly to AI’s growing influence in political discourse.

The bill carefully balances regulation with free speech considerations, carving out exceptions for satire and parody. Media platforms reporting on AI-generated content would also be exempt from penalties as long as they clearly note the nature of the content in question.

A redrafted version of the legislation, incorporating elements from a bill by Minority Leader Brad Jones, would require “synthetic media” designed to influence voting to include clear disclosures about its AI-generated nature at both the beginning and end of the content. These transparency requirements aim to empower voters with the information needed to distinguish between authentic and artificial campaign materials.

Violators would face financial penalties, though the exact amounts haven’t been specified in preliminary reports. The bill also seeks to legally define “generative artificial intelligence,” a move that has garnered bipartisan interest according to Representative Farley-Bouvier.

Massachusetts currently lags behind approximately half of U.S. states that have already implemented regulations on AI in political messaging. The state had previously enacted a temporary measure against deepfakes, but it expired without affecting any state elections.

The urgency surrounding this legislation stems from the increasing sophistication of AI technology. Recent incidents featured AI-altered attacks targeting Governor Healey, highlighting the absence of legal guardrails in the state. The Boston Globe reported these incidents raised alarms among Democratic lawmakers in particular.

“Without clear regulations, AI could become a standard—and potentially dangerous—component of political campaigns,” warned Senator Barry Finegold, who co-chairs the Legislature’s emerging technologies committee. Finegold has indicated support for year-round regulation of AI in political contexts.

Governor Healey herself has voiced support for the legislation. “We need to ensure that as this technology advances, it’s used with integrity in our democratic processes,” she told reporters.

The legislation comes as states nationwide grapple with similar concerns about AI’s role in elections. The technology’s ability to create convincing fake audio, video, and images has raised fears about voter manipulation, particularly as the 2024 election cycle intensifies.

Technology experts note that distinguishing between AI-generated and authentic content is becoming increasingly difficult for average voters, making transparency requirements and disclosure mandates essential safeguards for electoral integrity.

If passed, Massachusetts would join states like California, Washington, and Michigan in establishing guardrails around AI in political campaigns, potentially creating a model for federal legislation as national lawmakers continue debating similar protections.