Pittsburgh, Pa. − March 17, 2026 − Senator Lindsey M. Williams (D-Allegheny) announced today that she will introduce legislation that will require political advertisements to disclose if artificial intelligence was used in their creation.
“Voters deserve to know when images and videos that they are viewing have been manipulated by artificial intelligence,” said Senator Williams. “Clear disclosure of the use of AI tools can help protect our elections from misinformation and misrepresentation. Transparency and truth in political advertising is another key step in restoring the public’s faith in our government.”
New apps and programs have made it incredibly easy for individuals to create generative AI with just a few clicks. These images are already taking over social media. A 2024 Harvard study showed that AI-generated images were among the most popular posts on Facebook, but that many users seemed unaware that these photos had synthetic origins.
Given this significant uptick in popularity, it is not surprising that AI-generated images and video have bled into the political world and political advertising. A 2025 study by the American Association of Political Consultants found that a clear majority of political consultants and ad-makers use AI tools on a daily basis. While not always malicious, these tools pose real harm and the opportunities to present misinformation or deceive the public are abundant.
26 states have already enacted laws that would regulate the usage of AI in political advertising and campaigns. As we approach the 2026 midterms, all signs point to AI-generated political content reaching an all-time high.
As part of this effort to strengthen our elections, increase transparency, and restore public trust, Senator Williams is also introducing a package of legislation to modernize Pennsylvania’s Election Code. This package includes:
- Protecting election workers from harassment, intimidation, and doxxing
- Increasing transparency and security requirements for voting machine vendors
- Creating the “Deceptive Practices and Voter Intimidation Prevention Act”
- Allowing counties to process and pre-canvass mail in ballots before Election Day
“Together, these bills will give voters the accurate information they need to cast their votes safely and securely,” said Senator Williams. “We can fight false information and rebuild public trust in our democracy.”
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