NJ A2818

Criminalizes knowingly or recklessly disclosing "deceptive audio or visual media" (deepfakes, AI-generated content, forged documents) within 90 days of an election with intent to deceive voters about a candidate, public question, or the election itself

First offense is a fourth-degree crime; second or subsequent violations are third-degree crimes; soliciting the creation of such deceptive media is also criminalized under the same penalty structure

Exempts media that includes a disclaimer stating "This work contains manipulated images or sound" displayed for the entire duration of video/image content or read at the beginning of audio content

Provides safe harbors for news reporting, satire, parody, criticism, teaching, and research when the deceptive nature is clearly identified; also exempts interactive computer service providers, cloud services, and AI technology providers from liability

Allows registered voters to seek injunctive relief and permits candidates depicted in deceptive media to sue for damages, with relief requiring proof by clear and convincing evidence