Legislation Advances to Combat Deepfake Exploitation of Students

• •Senate Bill 346 prohibits deepfakes targeting K-12 students.
• •Legislation was inspired by a case involving a 13-year-old girl expelled for retaliating against a deepfake.
• •Senate Bill 347 aims to classify unlawful deepfakes as power-based violence in college settings.

On April 25, 2026, the Senate Education Committee in Louisiana unanimously advanced Senate Bill 346, proposed by Sen. Regina Barrow, aimed at protecting K-12 students from deepfake exploitation. The bill prohibits the creation and use of deepfakes that falsely portray students, addressing a growing concern following a November incident where a 13-year-old girl was expelled for retaliating against a classmate who created a deepfake pornographic image of her. Additionally, Senate Bill 347 was advanced, which seeks to classify 'unlawful deepfakes' as a form of power-based violence under the Campus Accountability and Safety Act, thereby subjecting college students to disciplinary actions for such harassment. The bills reflect increasing legislative efforts to safeguard children from the misuse of artificial intelligence technologies, particularly as generative AI tools become more accessible. The committee's actions received bipartisan support, indicating a strong consensus on the need for protective measures against digital abuse.