PA Digital Forgery Law
Pennsylvania Digital Forgery Law (Act 35 of 2025)
Pennsylvania · 2025 Pa. Laws Act 35 (SB 649); 18 Pa. C.S. § 4935
- Status
- In effect
- Took effect
- September 5, 2025
- Applies to
- Anyone creating AI digital forgeries with fraudulent or injurious intent
- Enforced by
- Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General; district attorneys
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.
Who is protected: Anyone impersonated via AI deepfakes; fraud victims, including seniors targeted by voice-clone scams
Legal 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.
Key facts
| Jurisdiction | Pennsylvania |
|---|---|
| Level | State |
| Strength | Limited |
| Enacted | July 7, 2025 |
| Citation | 2025 Pa. Laws Act 35 (SB 649); 18 Pa. C.S. § 4935 |
| 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 |
| Statute | 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 companies · Proposed / pending
- Senate Bill 1345 - Municipal Data Center Development Moratorium… · Proposed / pending
- PA AG — GEICO AI Underwriting Settlement · In effect
- Pennsylvania EO 2026-05 data center restrictions (2026) · 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) · Blocked / in litigation
- xAI v. Harwood (Grok NCII Counter-Suit 2026) · Blocked / in litigation
- Arizona HB 2133 deepfake sexual content — vetoed 2026 · Vetoed
- Arizona HB 2678 — AI-generated CSAM criminalized · In effect
- MN HF 1606 AI Nudification Ban (2026) · In effect
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