In effect
Limited protection
Washington Synthetic Media in Election Ads Law (SB 5152)
Washington · RCW ch. 42.62 (SB 5152, 2023)
Election ads in Washington that use AI-manipulated or synthetic depictions of candidates must disclose it. Candidates harmed by undisclosed synthetic media can sue for damages and injunctive relief.
Technical detail
Ch. 42.62 RCW (SB 5152, 2023) requires disclosure when electioneering communications contain synthetic media; provides a civil cause of action for candidates depicted without disclosure.
Who is protected: Washington voters and candidates
Who must comply: Sponsors of electioneering communications using synthetic media
Key facts
| Jurisdiction | Washington |
|---|---|
| Level | State |
| Status | In effect |
| Protection strength | Limited protection |
| Effective date | 2023-07-23 |
| Enacted | 2023-05-04 |
| Citation | RCW ch. 42.62 (SB 5152, 2023) |
| Enforced by | Courts (candidate civil actions); Public Disclosure Commission context |
| Private right of action | Yes — individuals can sue |
| Penalties | Damages and injunctive relief in civil actions |
| Topics | election deepfakes · deepfakes · AI-generated images · AI disclosure and transparency |
| Last verified | 2026-06-10 |
| Official source | Revised Code of Washington, Chapter 42.62 RCW: Synthetic media in campaigns ↗ |
More AI rules in Washington
- WA SB 5982 (Data Center / Clean Energy) · In effect
- Washington HB 2225 (AI chatbot disclosure, minor protections, crisis protocols) · Enacted (not yet in effect)
- Washington HB 1170 (AI content watermarking & provenance metadata) · Enacted (not yet 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
Related election deepfakes rules elsewhere
- MI SOS Deepfake Election Policy · In effect
- FCC Lingo Telecom Biden deepfake fine · In effect
- FL HB 919 AI political/commercial disclosure · In effect
- CA AB 2655 (deepfake takedown) · Blocked / in litigation
- AK SB 177 — AI deepfakes / cybersecurity / data privacy (dead, 2024) · Expired
- AK HB 358 — deepfake defamation / electioneering (dead, 2024) · Expired
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