candidates; digital impersonation; injunctive relief

This Arizona bill creates a new legal cause of action allowing candidates and citizens to sue for "digital impersonation," which is defined as synthetic media like deepfakes that misrepresent a person's actions or appearance. To win a case, plaintiffs must prove the fake content was published without their consent and was not obviously fake to a reasonable person, with specific rules limiting who can be sued and protecting internet service providers from liability. The law establishes a fast-track court process where judges must rule on preliminary relief within two days if a defendant does not appear, but it restricts the ability to seek money damages or permanent injunctions unless the fake content depicts sexual acts, criminal behavior, or causes significant harm to the person's reputation. Additionally, the statute sets a high burden of proof requiring "clear and convincing evidence" for most claims while ensuring that any initial court rulings do not prevent the case from being fully tried later if contested.