Today, the Center for Democracy & Technology (CDT) presented its testimony to the Connecticut Joint Committee on Government Administration and Elections. The organization addressed concerns regarding H.B.6846, a bill that proposes creating criminal penalties for distributing certain AI-generated images near election times.

The proposed legislation seeks to penalize individuals who knowingly share unlabeled AI-generated images within 90 days of an election if their intent is to influence election results or harm a candidate. This measure would apply to both general and primary elections. According to CDT, this could potentially affect most political speech during these periods, even from ordinary users.

CDT's testimony highlighted that while the rise of accessible generative AI has led to fears about its misuse impacting election cybersecurity and information integrity, any legislative response should respect constitutional rights. The organization emphasized the need for amendments to protect free expression rights and ensure active participation in democratic processes.

The testimony underlined that public discourse occupies "the highest rung of the hierarchy of First Amendment values." It called for modifications in H.B.6846 to allow users to advocate freely for candidates and causes using technology without fear of legal repercussions.

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