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Ro Khanna backs bill banning deceptive AI campaign ads
Legislation would prohibit AI-generated political content that falsely portrays candidates or campaigns.
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IANS - Tue, 28, Jul 2026
- 06:09 EDT
- 19
Representative Ro Khanna and Senator Adam Schiff reintroduced legislation targeting deceptive AI-generated political advertising. / X/@RoKhanna
Two Democratic lawmakers have reintroduced legislation that would ban deceptive artificial intelligence-generated political advertisements, warning that fabricated images, videos and audio pose an increasing threat to US elections.
Senator Adam Schiff and Indian American Representative Ro Khanna, both of California, announced the AI Ads Act, which would prohibit the fraudulent misrepresentation of political candidates or committees through content created wholly or partly using AI.
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The legislation would also codify bipartisan recommendations previously made by the Federal Election Commission. Schiff first introduced the measure during the 118th Congress.
"AI-generated fraudulent advertising which uses the likeness or voices of candidates to misrepresent their positions, campaigns, or causes, or otherwise misrepresents a candidate's point of view is not only wrong – it poses a serious threat to our democracy that should concern all Americans regardless of their party," Schiff said.
He said deceptive AI-generated political advertisements have already appeared in election campaigns across the country and warned they could become increasingly difficult for voters to distinguish from authentic campaign material.
"Fraudulent AI advertising has already proliferated in races across the country, and if Congress does not act, this runaway challenge will only get worse as AI becomes increasingly capable of blurring the lines between fact and fiction," Schiff said.
"With November elections around the corner, time is of the essence to rein in false political advertising," he added.
Khanna said artificial intelligence has the potential to transform society but should not be used to deceive voters or undermine confidence in elections.
"AI will transform our lives and our society in many ways, but it can't be used to mislead voters or undermine our democracy," Khanna said.
"I'm proud to lead the AI Ads Act with Senator Schiff to ban AI-generated content that deceives the public about candidates or elections," he added.
The bill would extend existing prohibitions on fraudulent political misrepresentation, including solicitations for campaign funds, to material produced in whole or in part using AI.
It would also broaden restrictions on the fraudulent misrepresentation of campaign authority by covering anyone falsely claiming to act on behalf of candidates, political committees or political organizations, whether real or fictitious.
The proposal would remove the existing requirement that fraudulent misrepresentation must concern something considered "damaging" to another candidate or political party.
The legislation has received support from several advocacy organizations, including the Campaign Legal Center, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, Common Cause, Protect Democracy and Public Citizen.
"Deceptive AI content online can manipulate voters, which is why we need this commonsense bill to ban AI ads that misrepresent candidates," said Abigail Bellows of Common Cause. "This legislation will ensure new technology doesn't outpace election transparency."
Craig Holman of Public Citizen noted that about 30 states have already enacted laws aimed at protecting state elections from deceptive AI practices and said Congress should adopt similar safeguards for federal elections.
Khanna, who represents California's 17th Congressional District, has frequently focused on technology policy and its impact on democratic institutions and is among the most prominent Indian American members of Congress.
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