Michigan Enacts Landmark Legislation to Combat Non-Consensual AI-Generated Deep Fakes, Upholding Privacy Rights

Michigan has enacted a groundbreaking law that criminalizes the creation of artificial intelligence-generated images falsely depicting individuals in sexual activities. Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed the legislation on Tuesday, aiming to provide protection against sexual harassment and exploitation through such misleading representations. The new measures consist of two bills: House Bill 4047, known as the Protection from Intimate Deep Fakes Act, and its companion, House Bill 4048. These bills were sponsored by state Representatives Matthew Bierlein, a Republican from Vassar, and Penelope Tsernoglou, a Democrat from East Lansing. They specifically target the production and distribution of … Read more

Louisiana Enacts New Traffic Laws to Combat Distracted Driving and Enhance Road Safety

BATON ROUGE, La. — Three new traffic laws began enforcement Friday, including a significant measure aimed at reducing distracted driving, which is responsible for approximately 3,300 fatalities annually on U.S. roads, according to federal transportation data. The updated legislation, a centerpiece of State Rep. Brian Glorioso’s advocacy efforts, marks a decade-long attempt to address this pressing issue. Rep. Glorioso emphasized the goals of the new law: to improve roadway safety, decrease serious accidents, and ultimately lead to lower insurance premiums for drivers. Glorioso’s initiative builds upon an existing Louisiana regulation that prohibits the use of … Read more

North Dakota Enacts Sweeping New Laws: From School Cellphone Bans to Tax Reforms and Enhanced Driver Regulations

FARGO, N.D. — Beginning August 1, new legislation will introduce significant changes in North Dakota, impacting daily life across the state. As cities like Fargo work through budgetary challenges exacerbated by recent reforms limiting annual property tax increases, local officials are looking for alternatives to close budget shortfalls. Among the notable laws is a measure that prohibits the use of cellphones in public schools throughout the academic day, save for specific exceptions. School districts have been actively preparing to implement and enforce this policy in anticipation of the new school year. Motorists in North Dakota … Read more

Texas Enacts New Alcohol Law After Heartbreaking Loss: Mother Advocates for Electronic Age Verification to Prevent Underage Drinking

DALLAS — A new Texas law mandates electronic age-verification scanners at cash registers in convenience stores and retailers selling alcohol, a measure spurred by the tragic loss of a young man in a drunk-driving accident. The legislation emerged from the efforts of Charlotte Stephens, a North Texas mother whose son, DeShawn Jagwan, died after consuming alcohol purchased without identification checks. Jagwan was just 18 years old when he died in a single-car crash shortly after attending his high school prom. On April 9, 2022, Stephens sent Jagwan off to Plano Senior High School’s prom. Described … Read more