INDIANAPOLIS — The 2024 general election is just a little over nine months away, which means you can expect to start seeing political ads — if you’re not already seeing some now.
The Senate is considering a bill that would make sure if artificial intelligence is used in one of those ads, the voter knows it upfront.
House Bill 1133 already passed unanimously out of the House. Now, it’s the Senate’s turn to get a look at the bill.
Lawmakers on the Election Committee heard details on that bill Monday morning from its author, Republican Rep. Julie Olthoff.
“People have the right to know if what they’re seeing or hearing or reading is truth or fiction,” Olthoff said. “If we require a disclaimer, campaign strategists might think twice about having to tell someone ads are not completely forthcoming."
Under House Bill 1133, any images, video or audio that changes a candidate or elected official’s appearance, conduct or speech without the person saying it’s OK, must have a disclaimer on it, so someone who sees it can understand that it’s not real.
Without a disclaimer, a candidate or office holder can sue the person or group responsible for the ad.
Some lawmakers questioned if the bill could contain more safeguards against false information.
“There is sort of this gap here where a candidate themselves could provide misinformation or mistruths about themselves or their own campaign, and there would be no civil or criminal recourse for that,” Democratic Sen. Andrea Hunley said.
Monday’s discussion also involved the possibility of banning artificial intelligence from being used to depict an election worker doing or saying something that never happened, something that could undermine confidence in the election process.
“Today’s AI is already outdated, and that’s how fast this is moving, and I think we’re right to take a look at this ahead of the 2024 election,” Democratic Sen. JD Ford said.
The election committee did not vote on House Bill 1133 Monday.