Gov. Hobbs signs bills regulating ‘deep fakes’

Gov. Katie Hobbs signed four bills and vetoed one on Wednesday, including two bills related to “deep fake” images and videos.

One bill signed by Hobbs was introduced by Sen. Frank Carroll, R-Sun City West, and will require deep fakes of political candidates posted within 90 days of an election to include disclosures of their manipulated nature.

Another deep fake bill from Carroll was vetoed, with Hobbs calling it “duplicative.” In her veto letter, Hobbs said that she expects to sign another similar bill, SB1078, once it is sent to her desk. SB1078, introduced by Republican Sen. John Kavanagh of Fountain Hills, would make it a felony to “defraud” or “harass” someone with deep fake audios, images or videos.

The vetoed bill aimed to prohibit the creation of deep fakes that include “intimate parts” or “sexual acts” without the consent of the individual being depicted. In her veto letter, Hobbs said she believes Carroll’s bill “significantly overlaps” with SB 1078.

Carroll’s bills are also similar to another signed by Hobbs last week, which will allow a candidate to ask a judge to declare that the person in the deep-faked image or video is not them. Judges will not be able to require the deep fake to be removed from the internet and candidates will not be able to seek financial damages.

The deep fake bills come as lawmakers get ready to leave the statehouse for the campaign trail, with all 90 seats in the Legislature up for grabs in November. All four deep fake bills that made it to Hobbs’ desk passed both chambers with bipartisan support.

Hobbs also signed three other bills from Senate Republicans. One from Sen. David Gowan, R-Sierra Vista, will allow the state to enter contracts with information technology vendors and another, also introduced by Carroll, will require public input on the sale of public land worth $1.5 million or more.

The third, introduced by Sen. Justine Wadsack, R-Tucson, will establish requirements for the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System on the handling of services and records for individuals with a serious mental illness.

With this latest action, Hobbs has now signed 202 bills this session and vetoed 59, compared to her record 143 vetoes last year. There are still several bills awaiting approval from the Legislature before they can be sent to Hobbs' desk for action.

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