In another frightening development, deepfake technology has now made its way into our political conversation — forcing legislators in the U.S. to respond. As of now, 28 states have done just that by passing legislation prohibiting the use of deepfakes of political figures. This decision is particularly timely with campaigns and elections underway. These laws are a symptom of increasing recognition of the potential for manipulation in the new digital age.
Most states don’t have laws that outright ban deepfakes—as long as they’re accompanied by obvious disclosures. Only California, Minnesota, and Texas have gone as far as passing laws prohibiting these deepfakes. They have outlawed these deceptive persuasive devices when targeted towards swaying an election, misleading voters or defaming candidates. This fraught regulatory landscape underscores the incompatibility of technological advancement in political communication and ethical practice.
Just last week, former President Donald Trump posted deepfakes on his Truth Social platform. These advertisements effectively embarrassed Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries into blocking sham immigration and voter fraud prosecutions. Lawmakers and tech experts alike have sounded the alarm over these posts. Together, they illustrate how misinformation is seemingly always only one viral, manipulated media away from spreading.
Chuck Schumer’s deepfake video is unfortunately not a one-off. That’s rich coming from the platform formerly known as Twitter, which has a long history of leaving this kind of content on its site. X (formerly Twitter) owner Elon Musk manipulated a video of former Vice President Kamala Harris. He proved it beyond a doubt in the run-up to the 2020 election. These efforts have sparked controversy around the social media giant’s role in stopping harmful and misleading content from spreading to millions of voters.
Rebecca Bellan, a senior reporter at TechCrunch who covers emerging trends in artificial intelligence, emphasized the implications of deepfakes in modern political communication. As misinformation grows and diversifies, so too must strong policy be developed and implemented.
“AI is here and not going anywhere. Adapt & win or pearl clutch & lose.” – Joanna Rodriguez
This announcement highlights the need for technology platforms and regulators alike to catch up to the realities of AI-fueled misinformation. We hope to see you at TechCrunch’s upcoming Disrupt event in San Francisco, October 27-29, 2025. Look for many of our most dynamic industry leaders to convene to address game-changing challenges at the intersection of innovation and governance.