Relates to establishing the offense of false pretense

◆ The sponsor's argument

Why Kevin S. Parker says this is needed

As technology continues to evolve, so too do the methods by which bad actors exploit, harass, intimidate, threaten, and defraud others. Online predators, cyberbullies, stalkers, scammers, and malicious actors increasingly use internet platforms, social media, artificial intelli- gence technologies, and digitally manipulated content to impersonate individuals and inflict reputational, emotional, professional, and financial harm. Recent advances in artificial intelligence and generative technologies have made it possible to create realistic deepfakes, synthetic voice recordings, altered videos, fabricated images, and other digital reprod- uctions capable of convincingly imitating a person's identity without their knowledge or consent. These technologies can be weaponized to spread false information, facilitate fraud, extort victims, damage careers and reputations, impersonate loved ones, interfere with employ- ment, or create credible threats to public safety. Current law has not sufficiently kept pace with these rapidly developing technologies. While existing statutes address certain forms of fraud, harassment, or identity theft, there remains a gap in addressing digitally simulated impersonation intended to cause harm through online platforms and artificial intelligence systems. This legislation modernizes New York's criminal code by establishing the offense of false pretense and expressly recognizing artificial intelli- gence-enabled impersonation, deepfake technologies, and synthetic media as covered conduct. The bill adopts a balanced, tiered approach to penalties by distinguishing less severe offenses from those involving serious financial harm, credible threats, coercion, extortion, or significant misuse of advanced technologies. Further, the bill provides meaningful remedies to victims by authorizing courts to order damages, restitution, removal of harmful content, and injunctive relief to stop continued dissemination of fraudulent impersonation materials. In an era of twenty-four-hour connectivity and rapidly evolving artifi- cial intelligence technologies, this legislation is necessary to protect New Yorkers from emerging forms of digital exploitation and identity- based harm while ensuring accountability for those who weaponize tech- nology to deceive, intimidate, threaten, or defraud others.

This is the sponsor's own case for the bill, quoted from their memorandum. It is not Agora's description of what the bill does.