A plan spearheaded by a local representative that protects residents, children and families in the face of new technology is now law after being signed Tuesday by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.
House Bills 4047-48, now Public Acts 11-12 of 2025, create criminal penalties and allow for civil action for the nonconsensual creation and dissemination of “deepfake” images or videos that are sensitive in nature or feature intimate parts of an individual. District 97 Rep. Matt Bierlein of Vassar helped introduce the bills in March of 2024 during the previous legislative term.
Deepfakes are highly realistic, computer-generated images that can make it appear as though an individual is engaging in activities they never participated in, including sexual activities. Previously, there were no laws in place in Michigan to prevent or deter individuals from sharing these types of deepfake images or videos, even if an individual hasn’t consented to the creation or sharing of it.
Bierlein noted that nonconsensual creation and dissemination of deepfake images can cause immense psychological, physical and reputational harm for victims. National data has also shown a significant rise in sextortion cases that involve intentionally altered images or videos. In one stretch from October 2021 to March 2023, the FBI and Homeland Security Investigations received over 13,000 reports of online financial sextortion of minors.
The bills received overwhelming, bipartisan support in both the House and Senate before being sent to the governor.
