CONGRESSMAN JOE MORELLE PARTICIPATES IN OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE HEARING ON DANGEROUS AI-GENERATED DEEPFAKES

(Washington, D.C.) — Today, Congressman Joe Morelle participated in a hearing of the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Information Technology, and Government Innovation titled “Addressing Real Harm Done by Deepfakes.” During the hearing, Rep. Morelle highlighted his legislation, the Preventing Deepfakes of Intimate Images Act, and urged its immediate passage into law.

“Today’s hearing underscored what I have long believed: deepfake pornography is dangerous, abusive, and requires our urgent action,” said Congressman Joe Morelle. “I’m grateful for the opportunity to join today’s hearing and highlight my legislation, the Preventing Deepfakes of Intimate Images Act, which would establish both criminal and civil penalties for those who produce deepfakes—creating a strong deterrent to this horrific practice. I look forward to following up on what was discussed today and working with my colleagues to pass the Preventing Deepfakes of Intimate Images Act into law.”

H.R. 3106, the Preventing Deepfakes of Intimate Images Act will prohibit the non-consensual disclosure of digitally altered intimate images. The legislation makes the sharing of these images a criminal offense and creates a right of private action for victims to seek relief. The bipartisan legislation currently has 52 co-sponsors in the House of Representatives.

Today’s hearing featured witness testimony from Dorota Mani, mother of Francesca Mani, who has worked alongside Congressman Morelle to advocate for the Preventing Deepfakes of Intimate Images Act after their difficulty finding help when Francesca and her classmates were the target of deepfakes at a New Jersey High School. Watch the hearing in full here.

To learn more about the Preventing Deepfakes of Intimate Images Act and Rep. Morelle’s continued work to combat deepfake pornography, visit his website here.

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