Deepfake creators face jail, hefty fines

TDT | Manama

Email: mail@newsofbahrain.com

Fake videos made with AI would carry jail terms and fines of BD3,000 to BD10,000 under a Shura bill that criminalises producing or altering audio-visual material which exposes people to contempt or harms the reputation of families.

The proposal, lodged by Ali Al Shehabi, First Deputy Chairman Jamal Fakhro, Dr Mohammed Ali Hassan, Khalid Al Maskati and Dalal Al Zayed, would add a new Article 10 bis to Law No 60 of 2014 on information-technology crimes.

It targets anyone who produces or falsifies visual or audio material with intent to circulate, transfer, distribute, send, publish or make it available by any means or IT system, where the act renders another liable to contempt or punishment, affronts honour, injures the reputation of families or pursues an unlawful purpose.

Punishment

Courts may order imprisonment, a fine within the stated range, or both.

Al Shehabi said advances in artificial intelligence now allow users to generate lifelike video and voice clones, known as deepfakes, and argued that legislation is needed to curb misuse that infringes privacy and rights.

The Shura Council’s Legislative and Legal Affairs Committee, chaired by lawyer Dalal Al Zayed, found the bill constitutionally and legally sound and sent its view to the Foreign Affairs, Defence and National Security Committee for primary study.

Measure

An explanatory memo states the measure sits alongside existing offences in Law No 60 of 2014, including Article 8 on data manipulation to seize property and Article 10 on producing or sharing pornographic material, and is distinct from Penal Code provisions on misuse of communications.

The text adds that, once enacted and published in the Official Gazette, the law would take effect the following day.