• Fraud and Impersonation: Using a deepfake to impersonate a federal official (active or retired) to trick people, commit a scam, or extract money violates federal wire fraud and general impersonation statutes. [1, 2]
• The TAKE IT DOWN Act: This federal law criminalizes the publishing or distribution of non-consensual intimate digital forgeries (sexual deepfakes), regardless of whether the person depicted is a private citizen or a former official. [1, 2]
• State Regulations: Many states have specific statutes penalizing malicious deepfakes, especially those intended to cause reputational injury, harass, or interfere with public safety and elections. [1, 2, 3]

Protected Uses

• Satire and Parody: Protected forms of free speech, such as clear parody, artistic expression, or commentary, are generally legal as long as they do not cross into defamation, extortion, or fraud. [1, 2]