A Republican lawmaker representing portions of central and eastern Missouri is reviving efforts to pass the Taylor Swift Act, which would create new protections for victims of AI-altered images.
State Sen. Travis Fitzwater, R-Holts Summit, is sponsoring SB 1117, which would let people take civil or even criminal action against anyone who shares digitally altered intimate images of them without consent.
“This is just modernizing our statues to ensure that when people are exposed with digital depictions and they’re distributed, that there’s some lawful recourse for that behavior,” said Fitzwater.”
State Sen. Nick Schroer, R-St. Charles County, said AI is changing the game.
“There are videos out there that people can make with little to no money whatsoever and within a couple minutes have a video that sounds like the person, looks like the person,” said Schroer. “So, I do think that the legislature absolutely has to take a stand and define some of these repercussions for harming somebody’s image.”
Under the Taylor Swift Act, anyone who shares or threatens to share an intimate digital depiction without consent could face felony charges — a Class E felony for a first offense and a Class C felony for repeat violations or cases involving more serious harm. The bill also allows victims to seek damages and court orders to stop further sharing.
During Wednesday’s Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, no one spoke against the bill.
Earlier versions of the Taylor Swift Act were filed in the Missouri House and Senate at the start of 2024 legislative session. A committee passed the House version. The 2024 Senate version died without receiving a public hearing.
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