SB594: SB594 Internet and E-mail Fraud; the criminal offense of digital identity fraud; establish

Current Georgia law does not specifically address deceptive AI-generated media in elections, AI-created child sexual abuse images, or online impersonation using someone's likeness. This bill creates several new criminal offenses to fill those gaps. It makes it a crime to knowingly spread 'materially deceptive' AI media within 90 days of an election to influence the outcome or confuse voters, while exempting satire, parody, and journalism. It requires campaign ads to disclose AI-generated content with specific readability rules. It creates a new felony for distributing computer-generated obscene images depicting children, and a new felony called 'digital identity fraud' for impersonating a real Georgia resident on social media to deceive, harm, or defraud. It also lets judges add extra prison time and fines when someone knowingly used an AI system to commit certain other crimes such as stalking or exploitation. The law would take effect July 1, 2026, and apply only to offenses committed after that date.

• Creates the crime of 'fraudulent election interference,' making it illegal to knowingly spread AI-generated deceptive media within 90 days of an election to sway results or confuse voters.
• Requires campaign ads using AI-generated content to include specific, readable disclosures about the AI use, with fines starting at $10,000 for violations.
• Creates a new felony, 'distribution of computer generated obscene material depicting a child,' punishable by 1 to 15 years in prison.
• Creates a new felony, 'digital identity fraud,' for impersonating a real Georgia resident on social media without consent to deceive, harm, or defraud, punishable by 1 to 20 years in prison and fines up to $500,000.
• Lets judges impose extra prison time and fines when a defendant knowingly used an artificial intelligence system to commit certain listed crimes like stalking or exploitation of a disabled or elderly person.
• Gives the Attorney General shared authority with local prosecutors to pursue election-related AI fraud cases, but only after a referral from the State Election Board.

Political candidates, campaign staff, and committees involved in creating campaign ads; social media platforms and their operators; individuals whose likeness or identity could be misused online; people who create or distribute AI-generated child exploitation material; and anyone convicted of certain crimes while using AI, who could face enhanced sentences.

Georgians would gain new legal tools against AI-generated deepfakes used to manipulate elections, against people who create fake sexual images of children using AI, and against online impersonation. Campaigns using AI in ads would face new disclosure rules and steep fines, and courts could hand down longer sentences for AI-assisted crimes.

• Section 2-1 creates O.C.G.A. § 21-2-605, banning 'materially deceptive media' distributed within 90 days of an election with intent to deceive voters, punishable as a misdemeanor first offense and a felony (2 to 5 years, up to $50,000 fine) for repeat offenses.
• Section 2-4 creates a new article (O.C.G.A. §§ 21-5-90 to 21-5-94) allowing AI use in campaign ads only with prescribed disclosures on size, duration, and audio clarity, with fines of at least $10,000 per violation.
• Section 3-1 creates O.C.G.A. § 16-12-80.1, a felony (1 to 15 years) for distributing AI-generated obscene images depicting children, with mandatory reporting requirements to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.
• Section 3-2 creates O.C.G.A. § 16-9-109.2, the 'digital identity fraud' felony for impersonating a Georgia resident on social media, punishable by 1 to 20 years in prison and fines from $1,000 to $500,000.
• Section 4-1 creates O.C.G.A. § 17-10-23, allowing sentencing judges to add extra prison time and fines when a defendant knowingly used AI to commit designated crimes such as stalking, child enticement, or fraud offenses.
• Section 4-2 updates cross-references in Georgia's education and highway laws to point to the new obscenity code section.
• Section 5-1 sets the effective date as July 1, 2026, applying only to offenses committed on or after that date.

1. 2026-03-25House Passed/Adopted By Substitute (House)
2. 2026-03-25House Third Readers (House)
3. 2026-03-19House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute (House)
4. 2026-03-10House Second Readers (House)
5. 2026-03-09House First Readers (House)
6. 2026-03-06Senate Passed/Adopted (Senate)
7. 2026-03-06Senate Third Read (Senate)
8. 2026-03-06Senate Taken from Table (Senate)

• Timothy Bearden (R, SD-030)Primary sponsor
• Brian Strickland (R, SD-042)
• Bo Hatchett (R, SD-050)
• Jason Anavitarte (R, SD-031)
• Clint Dixon (R, SD-045)
• Matt Brass (R, SD-006)
• Shawn Still (R, SD-048)
• Tyler Smith (R, HD-018)

1. PassedSenate voteMarch 6, 2026

   50 yea, 1 nay (2 not voting, 2 absent)

   Passage: Senate Vote #662

2. PassedHouse voteMarch 25, 2026

   159 yea, 6 nay (1 not voting, 10 absent)

   Passage: House Vote #766

• election deepfakes
• artificial intelligence regulation
• digital identity fraud
• child exploitation law
• campaign advertising rules