election communications; deep fakes; prohibition

This Arizona bill prohibits individuals from creating or distributing deceptive deepfake videos or audio of election candidates and political parties within 90 days of an election unless they include a clear disclosure that the content was generated by artificial intelligence. The law applies to anyone using digital tools to make these fake images or recordings but excludes news organizations, websites, and creators of satire or parody from the ban. Violators face criminal penalties ranging from a misdemeanor to a felony, depending on whether they have prior convictions or intended to cause violence.