Pennsylvania Digital Forgery Law (Act 35 of 2025)
Pennsylvania · 2025 Pa. Laws Act 35 (SB 649); 18 Pa. C.S. § 4935
Pennsylvania created the crime of 'digital forgery': making a forged AI-generated likeness of someone with intent to defraud or injure is a first-degree misdemeanor, escalating to a third-degree felony for financial fraud — directly targeting AI voice-clone scams like fake grandchild emergency calls. A clear fake-content disclaimer is an affirmative defense.
Technical detail
2025 Pa. Laws Act 35 (SB 649), eff. ~Sept. 5, 2025, creates 18 Pa. C.S. § 4935: first-degree misdemeanor ($1,500–$10,000 + up to 5 years) for unconsented AI impersonation with fraudulent/injurious intent; third-degree felony (up to $15,000 + 7 years) for financial fraud or coercion.
Who is protected: Anyone impersonated via AI deepfakes; fraud victims, including seniors targeted by voice-clone scams
Who must comply: Anyone creating AI digital forgeries with fraudulent or injurious intent
Key facts
| Jurisdiction | Pennsylvania |
|---|---|
| Level | State |
| Status | In effect |
| Protection strength | Limited protection |
| Effective date | 2025-09-05 |
| Enacted | 2025-07-07 |
| Citation | 2025 Pa. Laws Act 35 (SB 649); 18 Pa. C.S. § 4935 |
| Enforced by | Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General; district attorneys |
| Penalties | 1st-degree misdemeanor $1,500–$10,000 + up to 5 years; 3rd-degree felony up to $15,000 + 7 years |
| Topics | deepfakes · AI-generated images · consumer protection |
| Last verified | 2026-06-12 |
| Official source | Act No. 35 of 2025 — Pennsylvania General Assembly ↗ |
More AI rules in Pennsylvania
- PA v. Character.AI (Fake Psychiatrist Chatbot) · Blocked / in litigation
- Pennsylvania Municipal Data Center Moratorium Bills (Coleman · Proposed / pending
- House Bill 2512 — Banning surveillance pricing by rideshare · Proposed / pending
- Senate Bill 1345 - Municipal Data Center Development Morator · Proposed / pending
- PA Act 130 of 2022 (HAVs) · In effect
- PA PDD law (Act 130/2020) · In effect
Related deepfakes rules elsewhere
- Arkansas Frank Broyles Act AI amendment — voice and likeness protection (2025) · In effect
- Doe v. X.AI (Grok NCII deepfakes class action) · In effect
- xAI v. Harwood (Grok NCII Counter-Suit 2026) · Blocked / in litigation
- Arizona HB 2133 deepfake sexual content — vetoed 2026 · Vetoed
- NY AG · In effect
- MI SOS Deepfake Election Policy · In effect
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