Virginia HB 2678 — First-In-Nation Criminal Deepfake NCII Statute (Original Enactment 2019)
VA · Va. Code § 18.2-386.2 (as amended by HB 2678, 2019 Reg. Sess.)
Virginia HB 2678 (2019) was the first U.S. state law to criminalize AI-generated nonconsensual intimate imagery (deepfake porn). It amended Va. Code § 18.2-386.2 (revenge-porn statute) to cover 'falsely created videographic or still image' depictions. Class 1 misdemeanor. Still in effect 2026 and remains the foundational state deepfake-NCII statute.
Technical detail
HB 2678 (2019 Reg. Sess.), amending Va. Code § 18.2-386.2 — extended Virginia's revenge-porn statute to cover 'a falsely created videographic or still image' depicting a real person nude or engaged in sexual conduct. Class 1 misdemeanor (up to 1 year jail + $2,500 fine). First U.S. state to criminalize AI-generated NCII — predates federal Take It Down Act (2025) by 6 years.
Who is protected: Virginians; potentially others if conduct occurs in VA
Who must comply: Persons creating/distributing deepfake NCII in Virginia
Key facts
| Jurisdiction | VA |
|---|---|
| Level | State |
| Status | In effect |
| Protection strength | Moderate protection |
| Effective date | 2019-07-01 |
| Enacted | 2019-03-19 |
| Citation | Va. Code § 18.2-386.2 (as amended by HB 2678, 2019 Reg. Sess.) |
| Enforced by | Virginia commonwealth's attorneys |
| Private right of action | No — agency enforcement only |
| Penalties | Class 1 misdemeanor — up to 1 year jail + $2,500 fine |
| Topics | deepfakes · non-consensual intimate imagery · consumer protection |
| Last verified | 2026-06-17 |
| Official source | HB 2678 — Virginia LIS ↗ |
More AI rules in VA
- VA SCC Data Center Rate Case · In effect
- VA EO 30 (2024) · In effect
- VA SB 1392 / HB 2031 (2021 FR moratorium, narrowed 2022) · Repealed / replaced
- VA HB 2094 (vetoed) · Vetoed
- VA DOI AI Bulletin · 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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