Senate Judiciary Committee Advances NO FAKES Deepfake Bill

A key Senate committee has advanced bipartisan legislation aimed at curbing the proliferation of unauthorized AI-generated deepfakes. The Senate Judiciary Committee approved the Nurture Originals, Foster Art, and Keep Entertainment Safe (NO FAKES) Act by a unanimous voice vote on Thursday, June 18, 2026.

The bill would create a new federal intellectual property right, granting individuals control over the use of their voice and visual likeness in AI-generated replicas. It would prohibit the distribution of unauthorized digital replicas and ban services primarily designed to create them. Individuals would have the right to demand the removal of such content from online platforms and could sue for violations, with penalties reaching up to $750,000 per infraction for platforms that fail to comply.

Senator Chris Coons, a Delaware Democrat and a lead sponsor, described the legislation as a necessary response to technology that can make it appear people "said things we never said and did things we never did." The bill includes several exemptions intended to protect free expression, including for news reporting, documentaries, parody, satire, education, and research. It also...