Committee advances bill to address AI deepfakes and unauthorized use of identity with carve‑outs for news and satire

Senator Cullimore presented Senate Bill 256 to update Utah law for AI‑generated representations and unauthorized identity replication. The bill clarifies that defamation law applies to AI and digitally manipulated content, establishes a notice‑and‑takedown procedure before suit, limits damages when content is promptly removed, and recognizes an exclusive posthumous interest in a person’s identity in narrowly defined circumstances while expressly preserving news reporting, commentary, parody and political speech.

Supporters called the bill an important modernization that protects individuals from reputational and emotional harms resulting from noncommercial deepfakes. Mary Anne Christiansen of Utah Legislative Watch said the measure ‘‘allows our successors to also protect our identity even after we’re gone.’’

Online commenters and other witnesses urged adjustments. Seth Stewart said mandatory short takedown windows could be abused around elections and urged deletion of mandatory removal periods that might allow false content to be posted then withdrawn without legal consequences. Sponsor Cullimore said he welcomed further refinements and stakeholder input, including the Motion Picture Association’s suggestions on artistic uses and a possible registry for name‑image‑likeness claims.

The committee voted to favorably recommend SB256 unanimously (7–0). Sponsors and opponents expect the language to be refined in subsequent drafting as stakeholders weigh First Amendment and implementation concerns.