Deepfake images created with artificial intelligence are becoming increasingly prevalent, prompting alarm among elected officials and advocates about their potential impact on elections and public discourse. A recent incident involving a fabricated image of College Park, Georgia mayor Bianca Motley Broom circulating on Facebook highlighted the ease with which AI tools can now generate convincing false imagery. While the image was eventually debunked, thousands of people had already encountered it, raising questions about the speed of misinformation spread relative to corrections.
Public concern about AI-generated deepfakes appears to outweigh other technology-related anxieties. A mid-June poll found that approximately 71% of respondents expressed worry about AI deepfakes and disinformation affecting elections, with similar majorities concerned about AI being used to sexualize women and children. These concerns significantly exceed public anxiety about AI’s economic impact on employment. The Trump administration has deployed altered images in official communications, including a picture of activist Nekima Levy Armstrong that was digitally manipulated to distort her appearance.
Lawmakers have begun responding to the threat. Senator Raphael Warnock of Georgia described circulating deepfakes depicting him with fabricated health problems and physical characteristics, noting that distinguishing fact from fiction will become increasingly difficult as technology advances. Democratic senators have been analyzing potential election interference scenarios centered on fabricated imagery. Senator John Kennedy proposed legislation requiring AI companies to install safeguards against misuse, though Senator Rand Paul blocked the measure as premature. House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries called for urgent government action on broader AI regulation.
State-level responses have been mixed. Tennessee enacted the Ensuring Likeness Voice and Image Security Act, protecting individuals from AI voice cloning and digital likeness replication. Most states legally require clear disclaimers when political campaigns use AI to manipulate official appearances or statements, though Georgia is not among them. While Georgia lawmakers debated deepfake protections in bills proposed in 2024 and 2025, no legislation has been enacted. Legal experts note that balancing First Amendment protections with individual rights against false accusations remains a central challenge in crafting effective safeguards.
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