PA Digital Forgery Act
Pennsylvania Digital Forgery Act (SB 649)
Amends Pennsylvania's forgery statutes to criminalize creation and distribution of non-consensual AI-generated deepfakes ('forged digital likenesses') with intent to defraud or injure. Establishes tiered criminal penalties including felony charges for fraud-related deepfakes.
Jurisdiction
Pennsylvania
Enacted
Jul 7, 2025
Effective
Sep 5, 2025
Enforcement
Pennsylvania law enforcement; District Attorneys
Signed July 7, 2025; effective September 5, 2025 (Act No. 35 of 2025)
Pennsylvania General AssemblyWhy It Matters
Criminal penalties for AI deepfakes. Includes affirmative defense for proper disclosure - incentivizes transparency about AI-generated content.
Recent Developments
Signed into law by Governor Shapiro on July 7, 2025. Targets financial exploitation schemes using AI-generated fake content, particularly those affecting older adults.
At a Glance
Applies to
Harms addressed
Who Must Comply
- Any person creating forged digital likenesses in Pennsylvania
- AI tools used to generate deepfakes of real persons
Obligations fall on:
Safety Provisions
- Criminalizes non-consensual AI deepfakes with intent to defraud or injure
- Third-degree felony for deepfakes used to defraud or cause injury
- First-degree misdemeanor for non-consensual digital impersonation
- Affirmative defense for disclosure that content is not genuine
Exemptions
Protected Expression
Constitutionally protected activity including satire and content in public interest
- • Content is satire, parody, or in the public interest
Law Enforcement
Official law enforcement activities
- • Activity conducted by law enforcement
Disclosure Affirmative Defense
Defendant took reasonable action to notify viewers/listeners that content was not genuine
- • Clear disclosure that content is AI-generated
Technology Platform Safe Harbor
Technology companies providing tools and platforms not liable unless they intentionally facilitated creation/dissemination
- • Did not intentionally facilitate creation
- • Did not intentionally facilitate dissemination
Compliance & Enforcement
Key Dates
Sep 5, 2025
All provisions take effect
Penalties
$15K; criminal (up to 7yr)
View on map
Pennsylvania
Focus Areas
General regulation
Cite This
APA
Pennsylvania. (2025). Pennsylvania Digital Forgery Act (SB 649).
Related Regulations
SD Deepfakes Act
Prohibits disseminating deepfakes about candidates within 90 days of election with intent to cause injury. Class 1 misdemeanor with up to 1 year imprisonment and $2,000 fine. Affirmative defense for content with AI manipulation disclosure. Civil remedies available to AG, candidates, and depicted individuals.
NH Deepfakes Act
Criminalizes fraudulent use of deepfakes as a Class B felony (1-7 years imprisonment). First state law with explicit private right of action for deepfake victims. Enhanced penalties when deepfakes result in wrongful arrest. Prohibits lobbyists who violate the law from registering.
RI Intimate Deepfakes Act
Establishes criminal penalties for distributing synthetic intimate imagery (AI-generated deepfake pornography) without consent. Creates civil remedies for victims. Protects internet service providers from liability for third-party content.
PA AI Mental Health Therapy Act
Imposes explicit prohibitions on AI systems making therapeutic judgments, generating treatment plans without human review, or simulating emotional interaction. Violations treated as unprofessional conduct under Commonwealth licensing laws.
CA SB 942
Requires large GenAI providers (1M+ monthly users) to provide free AI detection tools, embed latent disclosures (watermarks/metadata) in AI-generated content, and offer optional manifest (visible) disclosures to users.
TX AI Catfishing Law
Establishes civil liability for online impersonation using AI. Person liable if they knowingly and with intent to harm, defraud, intimidate, or threaten use AI to impersonate another's name, voice, signature, photograph, or likeness. Civil remedies include injunctive relief, actual damages, exemplary damages ($500+ minimum), costs, and attorney's fees. Satire and parody exempted.
Last updated January 22, 2026. Verify against primary sources before relying on this information.