MS SB2577

Creates criminal offense for disseminating deepfakes or digitally altered images/audio without consent within 90 days of an election with intent to injure a candidate, influence election results, or deter voting.

Establishes penalties of up to 5 years imprisonment or $10,000 fine if offense involves intent to incite violence, cause bodily harm, or deter voting, or if perpetrator has prior conviction within 5 years; otherwise up to 1 year imprisonment or $5,000 fine.

Allows Attorney General, district attorneys, depicted individuals, affected candidates, and political parties to seek injunctive relief and court-ordered removal of digitizations from social media and other platforms.

Provides defense if digitization includes clear, prominent disclaimer informing viewers that the depicted individual did not engage in the depicted speech or conduct.

Exempts interactive computer service providers, news broadcasters, paid political advertisements, news publications, satire/parody content, and security/fraud detection activities from prosecution.