Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. − March 17, 2026 − Senator Lindsey M. Williams (D-Allegheny) announced today that she will do so introduce legislation which will require political ads to disclose whether artificial intelligence was used in their creation.
“Voters deserve to know when the images and videos they see have been manipulated by artificial intelligence,” said Senator Williams. “Clearly disclosing the use of artificial intelligence tools can help protect our elections from disinformation and misrepresentation. Transparency and truth in political advertising is another key step in restoring public trust in our government.”
New applications and programs have made it incredibly straightforward to create generative AI with just a few clicks. These photos are already going viral on social media. AND 2024 Harvard Study showed that AI-generated images were some of the most popular posts on Facebook, but many users seemed unaware that these photos were of synthetic origin.
Given this significant raise in popularity, it is not surprising that AI-generated images and videos have made their way into the world of politics and political advertising. AND 2025 study by the American Association of Political Consultants found that the huge majority of political consultants and advertising creators utilize AI tools on a daily basis. While not always malicious, these tools cause real harm and the opportunities to present misinformation or deceive the public are numerous.
26 states have already adopted laws regulating the utilize of artificial intelligence in advertising and political campaigns. As we approach the 2026 midterm deadline, all indications are that AI-generated political content will reach an all-time high.
As part of an effort to strengthen our elections, raise transparency and restore public trust, Senator Williams also presents legislative package modernizing Pennsylvania’s election code. This package includes:
- Protecting election workers from harassment, intimidation and doxxing
- Increasing transparency and security requirements for voting machine providers
- Creation of the “Act on Counteracting Deceptive Practices and Voter Intimidation”
- Allowing counties to process and pre-mail mail-in ballots before Election Day
“Taken together, these bills will provide voters with the accurate information they need to cast their ballot safely,” said Senator Williams. “We can fight fake news and rebuild public trust in our democracy.”
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