Rhode Island 17-30 (ban on undisclosed election deepfakes near an election)
Rhode Island Deceptive and Fraudulent Synthetic Media in Election Communications (Title 17, ch. 30)
Rhode Island · R.I. Gen. Laws 17-30-1 to 17-30-4; P.L. 2025, ch. 409 & 410, eff. July 2, 2025
- Status
- In effect
- Took effect
- July 2, 2025
- Applies to
- Candidates, campaign committees, political action committees, party committees, and persons or entities making independent expenditures.
- Enforced by
- Enforced through private civil actions in the Rhode Island courts (depicted candidate); no designated administrative enforcer.
Rhode Island bars distributing synthetic media that the distributor knows is a deceptive and fraudulent deepfake of a candidate within 90 days of an election. The ban does not apply if the image, audio, or video carries a clear disclosure that it was manipulated or generated by artificial intelligence. A candidate depicted in violating media can sue to block its distribution and may also recover damages.
Who is protected: Candidates depicted in election-related synthetic media, and voters.
Legal detail
R.I. Gen. Laws ch. 17-30 prohibits distributing deceptive and fraudulent synthetic media depicting a candidate within 90 days of an election absent a manipulation/AI disclosure, and 17-30-2 grants the depicted candidate a private right of action for injunctive or other equitable relief plus damages.
Key facts
| Jurisdiction | Rhode Island |
|---|---|
| Level | State |
| Strength | Limited |
| Enacted | July 2, 2025 |
| Citation | R.I. Gen. Laws 17-30-1 to 17-30-4; P.L. 2025, ch. 409 & 410, eff. July 2, 2025 |
| Private right of action | Yes, individuals can sue |
| Penalties | A court may grant injunctive or other equitable relief; a prevailing candidate may also recover general or special damages plus reasonable attorney's fees and costs. |
| Topics | deepfakes · election deepfakes |
| Statute | Rhode Island General Laws - Title 17, Chapter 30 (Deceptive and Fraudulent Synthetic Media in Election Communications) |
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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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