Virginia · 2025 Regular Session · Bill
SB 571: Synthetic media; expands applicability of provisions related to defamation, etc., penalty.
In committee Official data
- Introduced
- In committee
- Passed one chamber
- Passed both chambers
- Enacted
Last official action: ·Record last updated:
Plain-language summary
SB 571 is a bill introduced in the Virginia Senate on January 10, 2024. According to its official title, it concerns: Synthetic media; expands applicability of provisions related to defamation, etc., penalty. Primary sponsor: Adam P. Ebbin. It lists 1 additional sponsor. Most recent recorded action (November 19, 2024): Left in Courts of Justice.
Generated automatically from the official title, sponsor list, and status record only. It does not characterize the bill’s purpose or effects. How summaries are written
Official summary
Abstract published by the legislature (via Open States). Text as published by the legislature; reproduced verbatim.
Synthetic media; penalty. Expands the applicability of provisions related to defamation, slander, and libel to include synthetic media, defined in the bill. The bill makes it a Class 1 misdemeanor for any person to generate, create, or use or cause to be generated, created, or used any deceptive audio or visual media, defined in the bill, for the purpose of committing a criminal offense involving fraud. The bill creates a rebuttable presumption that such deceptive audio or visual media was generated or created for the purpose of committing such criminal offense if such deceptive audio or visual media is subsequently used as part of a plan or course of conduct to commit such criminal offense. The bill also authorizes the individual depicted in the deceptive audio or visual media to bring a civil action against the person who violates such prohibition to recover actual damages, reasonable attorney fees, and such other relief as the court determines to be appropriate. The bill directs the Attorney General to convene a work group to study and make recommendations on the current enforcement of laws related to the use of deceptive audio or visual media, including deepfakes, and any further action needed to address the issue of such use in fraudulent acts.
Sponsors
Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Democratic 1
| Name | Role | Party | Chamber | District |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adam P. Ebbin | Primary sponsor | Not applicable (committee) | — | — |
| Jennifer Boysko | Co-sponsor | Democratic | Senate | 38 |
“Support” is shown only as formal sponsorship recorded by the legislature. Roll-call votes are available on the official bill page.
Recent official actions
- Left in Courts of Justice
- Continued to 2025 in Courts of Justice (14-Y 0-N)
- Senate committee, floor amendments and substitutes offered
- Impact statement from DPB (SB571)
- Referred to Committee for Courts of Justice
- Prefiled and ordered printed; offered 01/10/24 24105058D