Every AI Policy Ever · open in the interactive register
In forceBinding · Law
Record US-NJ-01 · P.L.2025, c.40 (A3540 ACS, third reprint); N.J.S.A. 2C:21-17.7 and 2C:21-17.8
Defines 'deceptive audio or visual media' as recordings, images or other representations that appear to a reasonable person to realistically depict speech, conduct or writing of a person who did not engage in it, produced substantially by technical means. Generating such media, or soliciting, disclosing or using it, to attempt or further any crime or offence (such as harassment or endangering children) is a third-degree crime; knowingly or recklessly disclosing media so generated is a fourth-degree crime; fines reach USD 30,000. Victims can sue for actual damages of at least USD 1,000 per knowing or reckless violation, punitive damages, attorney's fees and equitable relief.
Introduced on 5 Feb 2024 as A3540, for which the Senate bill S2544 was substituted. The Governor conditionally vetoed the bill on 17 Mar 2025; the Assembly adopted his recommended amendments, which among other things made knowing or reckless disclosure a fourth-degree instead of a third-degree crime, and both houses passed it on 24 Mar 2025. Approved on 2 Apr 2025 and effective immediately. The law does not apply to content that a reasonable viewer or listener would understand as criticism, comment, satire, parody, news reporting, teaching, scholarship or research, nor to interactive computer service providers, cloud services providers or commercial AI developers not deemed publishers under 47 U.S.C. 230. Disclosure to law enforcement, to a school administrator or other advocate to report a violation, or for investigations of fraud, cybersecurity, identity theft or harassment is exempt. The Governor's office said the law was inspired partly by the advocacy of a Westfield High School student targeted by peers who created and shared AI-generated explicit images.
Open the official source https://repo.njstatelib.org//bitstreams/b2c951f8-5f1e-474e-a567-ec7897b82a3a/download
Secondary source: https://pub.njleg.state.nj.us/Bills/2024/AL25/40_.PDF
Archived. The secondary source could not be downloaded (The connection timed out; the site may block this network. robots.txt could not be checked, which RFC 9309 treats as 'do not crawl'). Last attempt 2026-10-18 00:08:55 UTC
TAKE IT DOWN Act United States · In force
UK sexually explicit deepfake creation offence (DUAA 2025 s.138) United Kingdom · In force
Minnesota nudification technology ban (HF 1606) Minnesota (US) · In force
Wyoming HB 102 (AI deepfake and self-harm offences) Wyoming (US) · In force
New Jersey Legislature (A3540, substituted for S2544; sponsors incl. Asm. Herb Conaway); signed by Governor Phil Murphy. An Act establishing civil and criminal penalties for the production and dissemination of deceptive audio or visual media (P.L.2025, c.40) [P.L.2025, c.40 (A3540 ACS, third reprint); N.J.S.A. 2C:21-17.7 and 2C:21-17.8]. 2025-04-02. https://repo.njstatelib.org//bitstreams/b2c951f8-5f1e-474e-a567-ec7897b82a3a/download. Status: In force; verified 2026-10-18 (level B). Local copy archive/US-NJ-01/2026-10-11/official.pdf retrieved 2026-10-11 19:38:53 UTC, SHA-256 019cfeeca0f5270fee3cbf4bae3a6dcd04c7a07bb37d4dc9391467cc486bce06. Every AI Policy Ever, version 1.18 (snapshot 2026-10-18), record US-NJ-01.
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