Voters experience varying protections against AI deepfakes

Axios · August 7, 2026Original source ↗

What happened

Twenty-nine states have laws regulating AI deepfakes in political advertising, while California and Hawaii have had their laws invalidated. Some states impose specific restrictions close to elections, while others require disclosures about the use of AI in political content.

Why it matters

The differences in state regulations could impact voters' exposure to potentially misleading AI-generated content during elections.

How this story affects people

How does this story affect you if you are a voter in a state with weak AI deepfake regulations?

You may encounter misleading AI-generated political content without clear disclosures, which could influence your voting decisions. This lack of regulation might leave you vulnerable to misinformation during critical election periods.

How does this story affect you if you live in California or Hawaii?

You could be exposed to unregulated AI deepfakes in political ads, as your state's laws have been invalidated. This situation may lead to increased misinformation in your local elections, affecting your ability to make informed choices.

Want this written about you?

The breakdown above is the shared version, for kinds of people. In the app, Ripple uses your job, your city, and your family, then writes that part about you.

Get your Ripple