Montana SB 413 (crime to share explicit deepfakes)
Montana Disclosing Explicit Synthetic Media Crime (SB 413)
Montana · Mont. SB 413 (2025), Ch. 606; MCA Title 45, ch. 5, part 6
- Status
- In effect
- Took effect
- May 12, 2025
- Applies to
- Any person who discloses, or threatens to disclose, explicit synthetic media; interactive computer services are not liable unless they intentionally aid or abet.
- Enforced by
- Montana county/state criminal prosecutors (criminal offense).
Montana created a new crime for sharing sexually explicit deepfakes (AI-generated or altered images and video) of a real, identifiable person. It is illegal to knowingly disclose such media when you know the person did not consent and that the disclosure would cause them serious emotional distress, to disclose it intending to harass or harm the person, or to possess it and threaten to release it to extort money or other things of value.
Who is protected: Identifiable individuals depicted in sexually explicit synthetic media; enhanced protection for minors under 18.
Legal detail
SB 413 (2025) creates the offense of disclosing explicit synthetic media, codified at Title 45, ch. 5, part 6, MCA, covering nonconsensual disclosure, harassment-motivated disclosure, and extortionate threats to disclose sexually explicit 'synthetic media' (deepfakes) of an identifiable individual.
Key facts
| Jurisdiction | Montana |
|---|---|
| Level | State |
| Strength | Limited |
| Enacted | May 12, 2025 |
| Citation | Mont. SB 413 (2025), Ch. 606; MCA Title 45, ch. 5, part 6 |
| Private right of action | No, agency enforcement only |
| Penalties | First offense: fine up to $1,000 and/or up to 1 year in county jail. Second or subsequent: fine up to $10,000 and/or up to 5 years in state prison. If the depicted person is under 18: fine up to $10,000 and/or up to 10 years. |
| Topics | non-consensual intimate imagery · AI-generated images · deepfakes · children's online safety |
| Bill text | Montana SB 413 (2025) Enrolled Bill — Disclosing Explicit Synthetic Media |
More AI rules in Montana
- Montana MCDPA · In effect
- Montana SB 25 election deepfakes — preliminarily enjoined as to plaintiff (2026) · In effect
- MT Right to Compute Act · In effect
- Montana HB 514 (sextortion deepfakes in privacy crime) · In effect
- Montana HB 178 (limits on government AI use) · In effect
- Montana HB 513 (property right in voice & likeness vs. deepfakes) · In effect
Related non-consensual intimate imagery rules elsewhere
- Arizona HB 2133 deepfake sexual content — vetoed 2026 · Vetoed
- Illinois HB 3851 — deepfake cyberbullying in schools (2026) · In effect
- TAKE IT DOWN Act · In effect
- DEFIANCE Act (deepfake-porn civil suits) · Proposed / pending
- NY S5959-D (2020, digital replicas + deepfake porn) · In effect
- Missouri Deepfake & Digital Media Protection Act · Proposed / pending
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