The Rhode Island Election Deepfake Law (H 5872 / S 0816) prohibits the distribution of deceptive and fraudulent synthetic media depicting candidates within 90 days of an election unless the media carries a disclosure stating it has been manipulated or generated by artificial intelligence. Signed July 2, 2025, it created a new elections chapter codified at Chapter 17-30. Rhode Island joined New Hampshire as the second New England state with an election deepfake rule.
Remedies Under the Rhode Island Election Deepfake Law
Candidates harmed by undisclosed deepfakes can seek injunctive relief and damages. Satire, parody, and news coverage are treated differently from deceptive advertising, and broadcasters carrying properly disclosed content are protected.
What Political Advertisers Should Do
Political advertisers in Rhode Island should apply AI disclosure labels to any synthetic depiction of a candidate in the pre-election window. Making the label a default step in creative production is the simplest path to compliance.
Source: Rhode Island General Assembly: H 5872
Report a violation: If you believe a business is violating this law, you can file a complaint with the Rhode Island Attorney General Consumer Protection Unit.
