New Jersey Deceptive AI Deepfakes Law (A3540/S2544, P.L. 2025, c.40)
New Jersey · P.L.2025, c.40 (N.J. A3540/S2544)
New Jersey's omnibus deepfake law establishes criminal and civil penalties for producing or distributing deceptive AI audio/video used to facilitate crimes — including sexual exploitation of minors, harassment, extortion, and election interference. Violations are a third-degree crime carrying up to five years and fines up to $30,000, and victims can sue.
Technical detail
P.L.2025, c.40 (A3540/S2544), enacted Apr. 2, 2025, criminalizes (third degree) production or dissemination of deceptive audio or visual media in furtherance of enumerated crimes; creates a civil cause of action. Exempts satire, parody, news, teaching, research.
Who is protected: Individuals depicted in deceptive AI media; voters; minors
Who must comply: Anyone who creates or distributes deceptive AI-generated audio or visual media in New Jersey
Key facts
| Jurisdiction | New Jersey |
|---|---|
| Level | State |
| Status | In effect |
| Protection strength | Limited protection |
| Effective date | 2025-04-02 |
| Enacted | 2025-04-02 |
| Citation | P.L.2025, c.40 (N.J. A3540/S2544) |
| Enforced by | New Jersey Attorney General; county prosecutors; civil courts |
| Private right of action | Yes — individuals can sue |
| Penalties | Third-degree crime: up to 5 years, fines to $30,000; civil damages |
| Topics | non-consensual intimate imagery · deepfakes · AI-generated images · election deepfakes · children's online safety · consumer protection |
| Last verified | 2026-06-12 |
| Official source | P.L. 2025, c.040 (A3540) — New Jersey Legislature ↗ |
More AI rules in New Jersey
- NJ Forbidding the Algorithmic Inflation of Rent (FAIR) Act · Enacted (not yet in effect)
- S731/A796 — Data center ratepayer protection and grid-demand · Enacted (not yet in effect)
- New Jersey Data Protection Act · In effect
- NJ Bot Disclosure Act (bots must identify themselves) · In effect
- NJ N.J.A.C. 13:16 (bias law covers AI hiring tools) · In effect
- Guidance on Algorithmic Discrimination and the New Jersey La · In effect
Related non-consensual intimate imagery rules elsewhere
- Arizona HB 2133 deepfake sexual content — vetoed 2026 · Vetoed
- TAKE IT DOWN Act · In effect
- DEFIANCE Act (deepfake-porn civil suits) · Proposed / pending
- NY S5959-D (2020, digital replicas + deepfake porn) · In effect
- VA HB 2678 (2019, first deepfake-NCII criminal law) · In effect
- Missouri Deepfake & Digital Media Protection Act · Proposed / pending
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