MADISON, WI – New reporting from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel details State Senator Sarah Keyeski and Representative Jenna Jacobson’s introduction of legislation that would establish criminal penalties for AI-generated deepfake scams. As artificial intelligence becomes more prevalent, Democratic legislators are working to ensure that bad actors who use this technology to trick and defraud vulnerable Wisconsinites are held accountable. Wisconsin must keep pace with rapidly evolving technology by establishing clear, enforceable protections.
Read more on Senate Democrats’ efforts to protect the vulnerable from AI scams:
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Democrats introduce legislation to crack down on ‘deepfake’ scams
- “Authored by Sen. Sarah Keyeski, D-Lodi, and Rep. Jenna Jacobson, D-Oregon, the new bill would make it a Class A misdemeanor to create and distribute a ‘synthetic digital representation with intent to coerce, harass, or intimidate’ an individual and a Class I felony to do so with the purpose of financial gain.”
- “…increasingly used to trick people into sending money or sharing information – for example, a grandparent receiving a call convincing them a loved one is in danger with technology mimicking their voice.”
- “‘This bill addresses an issue that causes me real concern: scams that target vulnerable individuals – like our seniors – and trick them into losing great sums of their personal savings,’ Keyeski said in a statement.”
- “‘This is an issue that is increasingly hurting folks across our state and country. I hope this commonsense proposal to protect Wisconsinites is something both my Democratic and Republican colleagues will support,’ Keyeski said.”
- “Evers pointed to the state’s recent bipartisan efforts to enact AI protections and told Trump any federal moves to preempt those policies would make ‘kids and families in Wisconsin less safe from dangerous and malicious misuses of AI.’”
