ME LD1690

Requires political communications containing AI-generated or materially manipulated images, audio, or video to include the disclosure: "THIS COMMUNICATION CONTAINS AUDIO, VIDEO AND/OR IMAGES THAT HAVE BEEN MANIPULATED OR ALTERED"

Violations may result in civil penalties up to 500% of the expenditure amount, compared to 100% for other campaign advertising violations

Defines "synthetic media" as digitally created or manipulated content depicting an individual's appearance, speech, or conduct that creates a materially deceptive political communication

Exempts news broadcasts, publications that clearly acknowledge questionable authenticity, broadcasters making good faith efforts to verify content, and satire or parody

Authorizes the Maine Ethics Commission to seek injunctive relief in Superior Court to stop dissemination of violating synthetic media and recover costs and attorney's fees