HB 1170 (WA AI Content Disclosure)
Washington AI Content Provenance and Disclosure Act (E2SHB 1170)
Washington · Wash. E2SHB 1170 (2026); Ch. 167, 2026 Laws
- Status
- Enacted (not yet in effect)
- Takes effect
- February 1, 2027
- Applies to
- Covered providers: entities creating generative AI systems with 1M+ monthly users accessible in Washington
- Enforced by
- Washington Attorney General (Consumer Protection Act)
Large AI image, video, and audio generators must embed hard-to-remove provenance data — watermarks or tamper-resistant metadata — in the synthetic content they create, where commercially and technically reasonable. This lets journalists, courts, and the public identify AI-generated media. Applies to generative AI services with over 1 million monthly users that are available to Washington consumers. Enforced only by the Washington Attorney General under the Consumer Protection Act. Effective February 1, 2027.
Who is protected: Washington consumers and the public exposed to AI-generated synthetic media
Legal detail
E2SHB 1170 (2025-26 Reg. Sess.; Laws of 2026, ch. 167; signed Mar. 24, 2026; effective Feb. 1, 2027) requires covered providers — entities that create or produce a generative AI system with over 1,000,000 monthly users that is publicly accessible to consumers in Washington — to include, to the extent commercially and technically reasonable, provenance data (e.g., watermarking or metadata such as the C2PA standard, made difficult to remove or tamper with) in AI-generated or materially altered images, video, and audio; excludes business-to-business uses and video games; enforced solely by the Attorney General under the Consumer Protection Act. No private right of action.
Key facts
| Jurisdiction | Washington |
|---|---|
| Level | State |
| Strength | Limited |
| Enacted | March 24, 2026 |
| Citation | Wash. E2SHB 1170 (2026); Ch. 167, 2026 Laws |
| Private right of action | No, agency enforcement only |
| Penalties | Consumer Protection Act enforcement remedies |
| Topics | AI disclosure and transparency · AI-generated images · deepfakes · consumer protection |
| Bill text | Washington State Legislature — HB 1170 Bill Summary (Chapter 167, 2026 Laws) |
More AI rules in Washington
- WA SB 5982 (Data Center / Clean Energy) · In effect
- Washington SHB 1672 (employee monitoring notice, ADS restrictions, emotion AI ban) · In effect
- Washington HB 1999 (criminalizes AI/fabricated CSAM and nonconsensual fake intimate images) · In effect
- Washington SB 5395 (limits AI in health-insurance prior-auth denials) · In effect
- My Health My Data Act · In effect
- SB 5152 (Election Synthetic Media) · In effect
Related AI disclosure and transparency rules elsewhere
- Trump AI Innovation & Security EO (June 2026) · In effect
- FERC order directing PJM and other grid operators to reform tariffs on… · Enacted (not yet in effect)
- Morris County resolution urging state oversight of data center power… · Enacted (not yet in effect)
- SU-47 Special-Use Data Center Zoning District Ordinance · Proposed / pending
- Cherokee Nation EO 2026-02-CTH (Data Center Task Force) · In effect
- NAIC AI Evaluation Tool Pilot (12 states, 2026) · Proposed / pending
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