Tell that to Abe Lincoln!
Posted on 02/24/2026 5:39:26 PM PST by nickcarraway
Missouri lawmakers are advancing legislation designed to criminalize the creation and distribution of sexually explicit deepfake images on the Internet with specific care for victims under the age of 18.
The bill, known as the ‘Swift Act’, is gaining renewed attention following the dissemination of fake, sexually explicit images of Taylor Swift in January 2024.
Missouri remains one of only a handful of states without specific laws regarding the abuse of Artificial Intelligence (AI).
Missouri Senate Bill 1117 would establish both civil and criminal penalties for anyone who creates or shares non-consensual intimate digital depictions without consent.
The Senate Judiciary Committee approved the bill on Feb. 4, setting the stage for further legislative action.
“This is just modernizing our statutes to ensure that when people are exposed to digital depictions, and they’re distributed, that there’s some lawful recourse for that behavior,” said Missouri Senator Travis Fitzwater (R).
Under the proposed law, first-time offenders could face Class E felony charges, a term not to exceed four years, while repeat violations or cases involving significant harm would be classified as Class C felonies, a term of years not less than three and not to exceed ten.
The bill also would allow victims to pursue civil lawsuits seeking damages, including attorney fees, actual damages, and up to $150,000 in liquidated damages.
Victims could also obtain court orders prohibiting further distribution of the images.
“There are videos out there that people can make with little to no money whatsoever and within a couple of minutes have a video that sounds like the person, looks like the person,” State Sen. Nick Schroer (R) said. “So, I think the legislature absolutely has to take a stand and define some of these repercussions for harming somebody’s image.”
The bill specifically does not allow defendants to claim the images as fake or AI-generated as a defense.
The legislation places particular emphasis on protecting minors from digital exploitation.
Lawmakers are working on a single comprehensive AI-related bill addressing multiple artificial intelligence concerns. The 2026 Missouri legislative session is now considering SB 1117 as part of a broader effort to modernize state laws governing artificial intelligence.
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Deepfakes of anyone should be criminalized. Penalties should be severe and should extend to the platforms that host or transmit them. The only defense should be having a signed authorization from the person whose image is being misused.
You should have a right to your own image and control over how it is used.
I’m sorry Taylor Swift is nowhere near being a minor.
And I believe it is understood that different rules apply to public figures.
However I find it fascinating that there are people in this world who think that just because someone was once in public and a picture was taken that their image becomes public property to be used in whatever way some deviant likes.
Please tell me more about how this is a great policy that you would defend.
A cartoon or a caricature is not a deepfake.
One might try to argue that obvious caricatures are sufficiently disrespectful that they should be banned. That’s not an argument I would make, and in any event, cartoons, caricatures, and clownish impersonations are so well established that they are untouchable — although Muslims and democrats seem to be getting restless there.
But a deepfake is a forgery intended to falsify a real image with intent to deceive. Not the same thing.
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