Brown Introduces Legislation to Require Labels on AI-Generated Campaign Content

Image October 21, 2026 Press Release Brown’s Securing Elections from AI Deception Act creates national label requirement, holds fraudsters accountable Washington, DC – Congresswoman Shontel Brown (OH-11) has introduced the Securing Elections from AI Deception Act , legislation to prohibit the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to deprive or defraud individuals of their right to vote and require disclaimers on AI-generated content. The legislation would be enforced by the Federal Trade Commission and applies to federal, state, and local campaign content. The Securing Elections from AI Deception Act is endorsed by the NAACP, the Lawyer’s Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, and NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social Justice. The legislation has 30 cosponsors in the House. Bill text available here . This week, the New York Times reported that over $130 million in AI-generated ads have flooded the airwaves this election year. According to analysis by Wesleyan University, 69% of ads with AI content do not have disclaimers . Campaign ads featuring deceptive AI-generated have proliferated in recent years ( Wall Street Journal , Reuters , New York Times ), including ads featuring deepfake video and audio. In 2024, deepfake images of Trump with Black supporters spread online . In addition to deceiving voters, AI could also be used to spread false information regarding election information as a tactic to suppress voting rights. In 2020, robocalls targeting Black voters in Ohio spread deliberately false information relating to voting by mail procedures. AI technology has the potential to encourage similar efforts in the future and make them more persuasive. “This isn’t complicated: voters deserve to know that the campaign content they see and hear is real. We need labels on AI-generated election content and we need to hold accountable those who use AI to knowingly spread false information. Pairing the latest technology with old-school dirty tricks is a dangerous combination. I’m proud to introduce the Securing Elections from AI Deception Act and will continue to defend the voting rights of every American,” said Congresswoman Shontel Brown . “Artificial intelligence cannot become another tool for voter deception and suppression. Black communities have long been targeted by efforts to mislead, intimidate, and exclude voters, and new technology can make those tactics more sophisticated and harder to detect. The Securing Elections From AI Deception Act puts necessary guardrails in place to protect voters and our democracy. The NAACP applauds Congresswoman Brown for her continued leadership,” said Cedric C. Haynes, NAACP’s Senior Vice President of Policy and Legislative Affairs. “Every voter should know that the basic information they receive about how to vote and register is accurate. But without action from Congress, information can be as artificial as the so-called intelligence at creates it. With the growth of AI tools powering dis-information, we need to pass the Securing Elections from AI Deception Act so that Black voters are protected and the sources of dis-information are held accountable,” said Chanel Sherrod, Policy Advisor at the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law . Brown serves at the Ranking Member on the Cybersecurity, Information Technology, and Government Innovation Subcommittee on the House Oversight Committee. Brown first introduced the Securing Elections from AI Deception Act in 2024. The Securing Elections from AI Deception Act Requires Disclaimers on Election-Related Content Generated by Artificial Intelligence Requires the use of a disclaimer for AI generated election content related to AI-generated images, text, video, audio or other media that includes a simulation, alteration, or distortion of an image, video or audio of a candidate for federal, state, or local office information about the time, place, manner, or requirements for voting or registering to vote for Federal, State, or local office The disclaimer for AI generated content must include either: the statement “AI Disclaimer: This output was generated by artificial intelligence” or a symbol, similar in size and design to the copyright symbol, consisting of the letters “AI” in a circle The disclaimer requirement would be regulated and enforced by the Federal Trade Commission under the authority of the Federal Trade Commission Act regarding unfair or deceptive practices The Federal Trade Commission would be required to educate the public on the meaning and use of the disclaimer and report to Congress on its adoption and effectiveness Prohibits the Use of Artificial Intelligence to Deprive or Defraud Individuals of the Right to Vote Bars developers or deployers of artificial intelligence from using AI to intentionally deprive or defraud an individual of the right to vote in an election. Including providing deceptive information regarding: the time, place, or method of voting eligibility requirements to vote or register to vote the counting of ballots the adjudication of elections endorsements the procedures or requirements for voting Using deception, threats, intimidation, fraud, or coercion to prevent, interfere, or deter, or to attempt to prevent, interfere, or deter an individual’s right to register to vote, vote, support or advocate for a candidate serve as an election worker Establishes a penalty of a fine or imprisonment for violating these prohibitions ### Issues : Civil Rights