Michigan Legislature Bans Sexual Deepfakes, Proposes Online Age Verification

Michigan lawmakers have introduced bipartisan legislation aimed at combating sexually explicit deepfakes and protecting minors from adult content online. House Bills 4047 and 4048, which passed both the Michigan House and Senate unanimously, criminalize the creation and distribution of nonconsensual sexual deepfake material, with penalties ranging from misdemeanors to felonies and allowing victims to file civil lawsuits for harm caused. The bills clarify that companies providing deepfake technology are not liable and focus on preventing harm caused by fake intimate or sexual content. Separately, House Bill 4429 and Senate Bill 284 propose device-based age verification systems to block minors from accessing adult content by requiring manufacturers to estimate users' ages and restrict content accordingly. Legislators highlighted the urgency of addressing these issues to protect children and individuals from emotional and reputational harm, noting that federal laws have not adequately addressed the creation of harmful deepfake content. The legislation now awaits further consideration and potential signature by Governor Gretchen Whitmer.