Law / United States / Virginia
HB 2678 (2019), Deepfakes in Nonconsensual Image Dissemination
A citation is an address, not a summary. The first part names the law; what follows narrows it to the exact section, article or paragraph.
In force since 1 July 2019.
An AI prohibited practices rule binding public and private bodies.
As of 6 September 2026.
What it requires
- Do not maliciously disseminate or sell a videographic or still image, including one created, adapted, or modified to depict an identifiable actual person (a deepfake), showing that person nude, partially exposed, or in an image that is otherwise obscene, with intent to coerce, harass, or intimidate them.
- This applies where you know or have reason to know you are not licensed or authorized to disseminate or sell the image.
- An internet service provider, email service provider, or other access-software provider is not liable under this section for content supplied by another person.
- A violation is a Class 1 misdemeanor.
If you get it wrong
Criminal exposureYes
Criminal exposure note
Class 1 misdemeanor, punishable by confinement in jail for not more than 12 months and a fine of not more than $2,500, either or both.
What this law does
Drafted with AI from the cited sources under the direction of UnGovr staff. UnGovr holds editorial responsibility for this page.
Any person who, with intent to coerce, harass, or intimidate, maliciously disseminates or sells a videographic or still image depicting another person nude, partially exposed, or (where not exposed) obscene, knowing or having reason to know they are not licensed or authorized to do so, is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.
HB 2678 (2019), effective July 1, 2019, expanded 'another person' to include someone whose image was used in creating, adapting, or modifying a videographic or still image to depict an actual, recognizable person, reaching a falsely created or digitally manipulated (deepfake) image on the same terms as an unaltered photograph.
An internet, email, or other access-software provider is not liable under this section for content supplied by another person, and venue lies where the unlawful act occurs or where the image is produced, found, stored, or possessed.
When LexLint raises it
generates_contentpublishes_adult_content