SB 649 Pennsylvania Senate · 2025-2026 Regular Session

An Act amending Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in forgery and fraudulent practices, providing for the offense of digital forgery.

Pennsylvania's SB 649 (now Act No. 35 of 2025) creates a new criminal offense for "digital forgery," targeting individuals who create and distribute fake digital images or audio recordings of real people without consent, intending to defraud or cause harm. It defines a "forged digital likeness" as a computer-generated representation that materially changes a person's appearance, speech, or behavior to deceive others, with penalties ranging from a misdemeanor to a felony for fraud schemes. The law explicitly excludes satire, political commentary, law enforcement activities, and technology providers from prosecution, and allows a defense if the creator clearly disclosed the content as fake. This law directly affects creators of deceptive digital content and aims to protect individuals from identity-based fraud or harm.
Bill status signed all 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Apr 2025
Committee Review
Jun 2025
Senate Passage
Jun 2025
House Passage
Jun 2025
Signed into Law
Jul 2025
Introduced Apr 29, 2025 Signed Jul 7, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 1 comparison

What changed between versions

Printer's No. PN0705 Printer's No. PN0920 · 4 edits
MODERATE
This bill update expands legal protections against deepfakes by adding new exemptions for technology providers and internet service providers, ensuring they are not liable for user-generated content. It also clarifies that satire and public interest works remain protected and adds a specific definition for 'forged digital likeness' to cover misrepresentations of a person's appearance, speech, or behavior. These changes aim to balance protecting individuals from identity misuse with preventing the chilling effect of liability on legitimate tech services and free speech.
Scope change
The bill's scope was broadened to explicitly exempt technology developers and internet access providers from liability, shifting the focus of responsibility away from platforms and toward the creators of the forged content.
ELIGIBILITY

Added exemptions for technology providers and developers who create the tools used to generate visual or audio representations.

Added exemptions for information service providers and internet access systems that enable multiple users to connect to servers.

DEFINITION

Updated the definition of 'forged digital likeness' to include material misrepresentations of a person's speech or behavior, not just their appearance.

REQUIREMENT

Inserted a new label 'A CONSTITUTIONALLY PROTECTED ACTIVITY' next to the satire and public interest exception to emphasize its legal status.

Floor votes · Senate Jun 10, 2025 · House Jun 26, 2025

How they voted

500
Passed
Total votes 50
Jun 10, 2025
D Democratic23
23 Yea
100% Yea
R Republican27
27 Yea
100% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea All Nay Mixed No data
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
19
Key actions
6
Committee
6
Jul 7, 2025
Signed into law
Approved by the Governor
lower
Jun 26, 2025
Lower · Passed
Third consideration and final passage
lower
Jun 26, 2025
Lower · Passed
Re-reported as committed
lower
Jun 25, 2025
Committee
Re-referred to Appropriations
lower
Jun 23, 2025
Lower · Passed
Reported as committed
lower
Jun 11, 2025
Committee
Referred to Judiciary
lower
Jun 10, 2025
Upper · Passed
Third consideration and final passage
upper
Jun 3, 2025
Upper · Passed
Reported as committed
upper
Apr 29, 2025
Committee
Referred to Judiciary
upper
1 primary · 11 co-sponsors

Sponsors