Washington, July 28: Two Democratic lawmakers in the United States have taken steps to ban misleading AI advertisements. They have reintroduced legislation aimed at regulating campaign advertising generated by artificial intelligence (AI). The lawmakers warned that fake images, videos, and voices pose an increasing threat to American elections.
California lawmaker Adam Schiff and Indian-American Congressman Ro Khanna stated that the AI Ads Act would prohibit candidates or committees from being misrepresented through entirely or partially AI-generated content.
Previously, Adam Schiff introduced this legislation during the 118th Congress in the House of Representatives. He emphasized, “Fraudulent advertising created by AI, which misrepresents a candidate’s voice or images, distorts their positions, campaigns, or causes, and misrepresents a candidate’s perspective, is not only wrong but poses a serious threat to our democracy. This should concern all Americans, regardless of party affiliation.”
Schiff noted that deceptive AI advertising has already infiltrated political contests across the United States, making it challenging for voters to differentiate between authentic campaign materials and misleading content. He stated, “AI advertising has already surged in elections nationwide, and if Congress does not act, this challenge will worsen, as AI is increasingly blurring the lines between truth and falsehood. With elections approaching in November, it is crucial to rein in false political advertising.”
Congressman Ro Khanna remarked that while AI has the potential to transform society, it should not be allowed to deceive voters. He stated, “AI will change our lives and society in many ways, but it cannot be used to mislead voters or undermine our democracy.” He expressed pride in leading the AI Ads Act alongside Schiff to ban content that misleads the public about candidates or elections. This bill aims to extend existing prohibitions on fraudulent misinformation, including fundraising materials generated entirely or partially by AI.
Abigail Bealoge from Common Cause stated, “Online deceptive AI content can manipulate voters, which is why we need this common-sense bill to ban AI ads that misrepresent candidates.” She added that this law would ensure that new technologies do not outpace election transparency.
Craig Holman from Public Citizen noted that nearly 30 states have enacted laws to protect state elections from deceptive AI practices. He urged Congress to approve similar safeguards for federal elections.
Khanna represents California’s 17th Congressional District, which includes parts of Silicon Valley, and has frequently focused on technology policy and its impact on democratic institutions. He is one of the most prominent Indian-American members of Congress.
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