This new regulation aims to stop harmful digital Deepfake photos, videos, audio, and more. In an effort to curb the proliferation of AI-generated fakes that steal identities, damage reputations, and encourage online abuse, Rockland County lawmakers unanimously passed the Damaging Deepfake Act.
Under the new law, intentionally producing or disseminating digitally deceptive media—hyper-realistic pictures, films, or sounds that inaccurately portray an identifiable individual without that person's consent—is illegal. Individuals who use artificial intelligence (AI) as a weapon for impersonation, fraud, or harassment risk fines or jail time; the penalties are more severe for repeat or criminally motivated violations.
"The swift dissemination of altered audio and video not only warps reality, but it also jeopardizes safety, trust, and reputations," stated County Legislator Dana Stilley, the bill's sponsor. "We need to act when someone's voice or visage can be taken with a few clicks. In a time when authenticity and truth are being attacked more and more, we are firmly opposing the abuse of artificial intelligence and protecting the rights and reputations of our citizens with this legislation.
From roughly 500,000 "creations" in 2023 to an estimated 8 million in 2025, the number of deepfakes has skyrocketed. Pornographic content makes up about 98% of all deepfake videos, with women being the primary focus. In 2023, victims of impersonation and AI-driven scams lost over $12 billion, and by 2027, losses are predicted to quadruple.
One member of the Rockland County Developmental Disabilities Subcommittee, Tiffany Mason, discussed the effects of internet manipulation on people with disabilities. Mason, explained how stereotypes are frequently used to inaccurately portray the feelings of persons with disabilities, portraying them as melancholy, sad, and lonely, which is not true, according to Mason. Additionally, she said that some scammers pose as disabled persons in AI-generated images and videos in order to obtain money via phony GoFundMe accounts, frequently without the victims' knowledge.
Despite the lack of new technology, Stefany Ovalles, Director of Immigration and Human Trafficking Services at the Center for Safety & Change, stated at a public hearing that the nonprofit organization had seen an increase in revenge pornography in both family and criminal court cases involving domestic violence. Sexually explicit content, whether obtained with or without the victims' consent, is used by perpetrators as a tool to further manipulate and control their victims. According to her, modern technological advancements have made it possible for criminals to manipulate and force their victims without even having access to this sexually graphic content.
Youth-related sextortion cases are also on the rise, she said, citing a local school district where six to seven male juveniles came forward to report that a classmate had sextorted them.
The Damaging Deepfake Act, according to Ovalles, "allows us as a community to be proactive in serving victims and survivors of all crimes, but it especially helps us protect women and children who are by far statistically most likely to be victims of domestic violence and sextortion, respectfully."
With frightening accuracy, artificial intelligence can mimic a person's voice, features, or gestures, enabling criminals to create pornographic material, phony political statements, or even pose as corporate executives in order to steal millions of dollars.
Rockland County District Attorney Thomas Walsh said that the consequences are devastating, ranging from financial loss and public mistrust to emotional trauma and reputational harm. He also said that one of the biggest problems governments face is that the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence frequently surpasses the legal response.
District Attorney Walsh stated, "That gap creates opportunities for people, for predators…to manipulate these new tools in ways our current legal framework can not always adequately address." "We must adapt." We must adapt to the times. The purpose of the Damaging Deepfake Act is to protect the people we all serve.
He warned that the long-term harm to children can persist for decades and that his office is all too familiar with how technological abuse affects our society's most vulnerable citizens. "Unfortunately, sometimes what goes on the internet will never come off the internet," he remarked. Dr. William P. Mullaney, president of Rockland Community College, stated that high school and college students nationwide have discovered their faces placed into fictitious and explicit photographs produced by artificial intelligence.
Dr. Mullaney declared, "These are not harmless pranks." "These are digital violations that have the potential to hurt victims and haunt them for years to come." That's why this municipal law is so crucial. It makes it obvious that consent is important, especially when using digital devices. It reaffirms that truth, dignity, and accountability are essential in Rockland County and provides law enforcement and community organizations like ours with a framework for responding when technology is abused to do damage.
Although state and federal laws already exist that address issues pertaining to digital reproductions, the U.S. These rules are insufficient to properly address the problems connected with deepfakes, according to the Copyright Office, which has been paying more attention to the matter.
By passing the Damaging Deepfake Act, Rockland County joins a select but increasing number of local governments that are addressing the human cost of AI abuse and making it clear that digital deceit is unacceptable and will not be tolerated. The chairman of the County Legislature, Jay Hood Jr., stated that "deepfakes are digital lies that can destroy lives in seconds." Misinformation travels more quickly and can cause long-lasting harm when individuals are unable to tell what is true. I'm glad I voted in favor of this local law because it provides us with options to assist protect businesses and residents.
