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A photo of the statehouse on a bright day

Source: (PHOTO: Abdul-Hakim Shabazz/WIBC)

STATEHOUSE–Misinformation can spread quickly, especially during election years like this one, but Indiana lawmakers say they are cracking down on that.

State Representative David Abbott of Rome City says deepfake political ads have been a growing concern because artificial intelligence can be used to alter a candidate’s image, audio, and video.

“The rise of AI-generated content in the political ad space is becoming a significant concern not only statewide, but also nationally. Requiring disclaimers on altered political advertisements will help protect Hoosier voters from being misled and boost election transparency,” said Abbott.

Indiana law now says a disclaimer is required to be placed on an AI-generated or digitally altered media such as audio, video, or images of a candidate used in campaign communications. If the material does not include a disclaimer, the candidate can bring a civil action against those responsible for the fake content.

On the education front, State Representative Michelle Davis of Whiteland co-wrote a bill that was signed into law that she says will extend window for students to apply for the Career Scholarship Account while also expanding the use of the money to include driver’s training courses.

“Creating more hands-on learning opportunities for Hoosier High School students will allow them to explore and experience different career paths while also equipping them with essential skills that will be beneficial upon graduation,” said Davis.

The Career Scholarship Account allows for high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors enrolled at a state accredited public or private school to receive up to $5,000 in state funding to pursue apprenticeships, work-based learning experiences, and credentials.

A 13th check is also being granted to Indiana’s nearly 90,000 retired public employees such as law enforcement and teachers. State Representative Matt Lehman of Berne co-authored the bill to make that happen. It will provide a one-time post retirement payment to help cover cost-of-living gaps for public retirees using existed, dedicated funds.

“As the cost of every day goods and services have increased, Hoosier retirees have found themselves in a challenging financial position. Fortunately, thanks to smart fiscal leadership, Indiana has the resources available to provide this one-time supplemental payment,” said Lehman.

Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb ceremonially signed these bills and many other bills into law this week even though they already went into effect this summer.

 

Why These Lawmakers Say They are Delivering Results for Hoosiers was originally published on wibc.com