As Michigan embarks on a new election year, the state’s lawmakers concluded their last session by passing crucial bills aimed at safeguarding poll workers and regulating the use of artificial intelligence in social advertising.
The trio of House Bills 5141, 5143, and 5144, designed to mandate disclaimers in AI-generated social ads and penalize attempts to deceive voters through AI, are now on their way to the president’s desk. These new election laws also address offenses such as intimidating or obstructing election officials in the performance of their duties.
House Bill 4129, initially approved by the House and later by the Senate, underwent modifications before reaching the final stages. Sponsored by State Representative Kara Hope, D-Holland, this bill introduces penalties for obstructing election officials, with potential consequences including fines and imprisonment.
Under the provisions of House Bill 5141, any individual, group, or entity disseminating AI-generated social ads must disclose the use of artificial intelligence in creating the content. Failure to comply could result in escalating penalties, ranging from fines to imprisonment, as outlined in the legislation.
The legislative process also saw revisions to the penalties outlined in the bills, with a shift towards civil infractions rather than criminal offenses. The fines for violations have been adjusted, with exceptions made for certain types of advertisements.
Moreover, the legislation defines artificial intelligence as a system capable of making decisions and predictions based on human-defined goals, with implications for both real and virtual environments. State Representative Matthew Bierlein emphasized the importance of regulating AI in the electoral process to maintain integrity and transparency.
Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson lauded the bills’ passage, highlighting the significance of fortifying election security and combatting potential threats posed by AI in political campaigns. Benson stressed the need for collaboration at state and federal levels to protect the electoral process from external influences.
