Alabama · verified October 5, 2026

Alabama AI laws for political campaigns

Disclosure requiredFederal TCPA on AI calls1 political AI law

Distributing a knowingly false AI deepfake of a candidate within 90 days of an Alabama election to harm the candidate and deceive voters is a crime unless it carries a disclaimer that the media was manipulated by technical means and depicts speech or conduct that did not occur.

Political ad AI law
Disclosure
When it applies
Within 90 days before an election
Required AI disclaimer
Exact wording set by law
Criminal penalty
Yes
Candidate can sue
Yes
AI voice calls
Federal TCPA only

Political ads and deepfakes

Does Alabama regulate AI in political ads?

Yes. Alabama's 2024 law (HB 172, Act 2024-349, Ala. Code 17-5-16.1) makes it a crime to distribute AI-produced materially deceptive image, audio or video of a person within 90 days before an election, knowing it is false and intending to harm a candidate and deceive voters. A disclaimer stating the media was manipulated by technical means and depicts speech or conduct that did not occur is a safe harbor (the statute offers suggested wording that is sufficient but not mandatory), and edited real footage must also cite the original source. A first offense is a Class A misdemeanor and a repeat within five years is a Class D felony, and the Attorney General, the person depicted, an injured candidate or a voter group can get a permanent injunction. Key law (HB 172 (2024), Act 2024-349, Ala. Code 17-5-16.1).

HB 172 (2024), Act 2024-349: Distribution of materially deceptive media to influence an upcoming election

In effect

Required disclaimer, word for word

“This media has been manipulated by technical means and depicts speech or conduct that did not occur.”
Citation
Ala. Code 17-5-16.1
Enacted
May 16, 2024
Effective
October 1, 2024
When it applies
within 90 days before an election
Media covered
any image, audio, or video produced by artificial intelligence that falsely depicts an individual engaging in speech or conduct they did not engage in, such that a reasonable viewer or listener would believe it was real
Who it covers
any person who distributes or enters into an agreement to distribute the media
Rule
ban unless disclosed
Intent required
The person knows the media falsely represents the depicted individual, intends the distribution to harm the reputation or electoral prospects of a candidate and the distribution is reasonably likely to do so, and intends to deceive voters and change their votes and the distribution is reasonably likely to do so.
Disclaimer format
The creator, sponsor or purchaser must include a disclaimer in any presentation informing the viewer both that the media has been manipulated by technical means and depicts speech or conduct that did not occur; the quoted wording is declared "sufficient, but not necessary." Video: appears throughout the entire video, clearly visible and readable by the average viewer, in an easily readable size, in the same language as the video. Audio only: read at the beginning and end in a clearly spoken manner, at a pitch easily heard by the average listener, in the same language. Image: clearly visible and readable, in the same language. If the media was made by editing an existing image, audio or video, it must also include a citation directing the audience to the original source of the unedited version. Distributors may not intentionally remove a disclaimer.
Exemptions
  • media carrying the compliant disclaimer (and source citation for edited media)
  • websites, interactive computer services, broadcasters, cable and satellite operators, newspapers, magazines and streaming services that lack actual knowledge the material is prohibited and lack intent to harm or influence the election
  • bona fide newscasts, news interviews, documentaries and on-the-spot coverage that clearly acknowledge questions about authenticity
  • satire or parody substantially dependent on a person's ability to impersonate a candidate physically or verbally rather than on technology or AI
Criminal penalty
First violation: Class A misdemeanor (up to 1 year jail). Second violation within five years: Class D felony.
Who can sue
The Attorney General, the depicted individual, a candidate who is or is likely to be injured, or an entity representing the interests of voters likely to be deceived may seek permanent injunctive relief. The plaintiff must prove by clear and convincing evidence that the defendant knew the media was false. Frivolous complaints can be dismissed with fees to the defendant; a winning plaintiff other than the AG may recover costs and attorney fees.
Injunction available
Yes
Court challenges
No court challenge found. In October 2024 Attorney General Steve Marshall told the Hamilton Lincoln Law Institute (representing parody creator Christopher Kohls) that the law does not reach parody a reasonable viewer would not believe is real.
Notes
Codified in the Fair Campaign Practices Act chapter. Enrolled and delivered to the governor May 9, 2024; enacted May 16, 2024 per LegiScan; effective October 1, 2024 (Section 5 of the act).

Read the official text

For campaigns and consultants

Before an AI ad runs in Alabama

  • In the 90 days before any Alabama election, never distribute realistic AI audio, video or images of a candidate without a disclaimer; the safest wording is the statute's own: "This media has been manipulated by technical means and depicts speech or conduct that did not occur."
  • In audio, including robocalls and radio, read that line at both the beginning and the end.
  • In video, keep the text on screen for the whole spot, in the same language as the ad.
  • If the fake was made by editing real footage or audio, add a citation pointing to the original, unedited source.
  • This is a criminal statute: a repeat violation within five years is a felony, so clear every AI asset with counsel before release.
  • Obvious impersonator-style parody is safer than tech-driven fakes; the AG has said parody a reasonable viewer would not believe is outside the law.

AI voice calls and texts

Can a campaign use AI voice calls in Alabama?

Alabama has no statute specific to AI voices or political robocalls. Its telemarketing laws (Alabama Telemarketing Act, Ala. Code 8-19A, and Telephone Solicitations Act, Ala. Code 8-19C) target sales calls. The main state rule that reaches AI political calls is the deepfake law: an AI voice of a candidate in a robocall within 90 days of an election is audio covered by Ala. Code 17-5-16.1 and needs the disclaimer read at the beginning and end.

Federal floor everywhere: AI-generated voices are “artificial” voices under the TCPA (FCC, February 2024), so they need prior express consent to cell phones and must identify the caller at the start of the call. AI robocall laws in every state

Federal layer

Federal rules that apply in Alabama

At the federal level, the binding rules that hit AI in campaigns today are the TCPA and FCC robocall rules, not any AI-specific election law. Since February 2024 the FCC treats AI-generated voices as "artificial" voices, so AI voice calls to cell phones need prior express consent (political calls included), AI or prerecorded political calls to landlines are limited to three per 30 days without consent, and every such message must identify the caller, give a callback number and offer an opt-out. The FEC says its existing fraudulent misrepresentation ban covers AI, but it has had no quorum since April 2025 and cannot enforce. Proposed FCC rules on AI disclosure in broadcast political ads and in AI calls were never adopted, and no federal AI political ad disclaimer bill has passed. Federal efforts to preempt state AI laws (a 2025 moratorium the Senate struck 99 to 1, and Executive Order 14365) have not displaced any state election or robocall law as of October 2026.

FCC, FEC and the federal preemption fight

How Alabama compares

25 other jurisdictions share Alabama's status (disclosure):

Arizona · Colorado · Delaware · Florida · Idaho · Indiana · Kentucky · Louisiana · Maine · Michigan · Mississippi · Montana · Nevada · New Hampshire · New Mexico · New York · North Dakota · Oregon · Rhode Island · South Dakota · Tennessee · Utah · Vermont · Washington · Wisconsin

See Alabama on the mapPolitical deepfake laws, all statesDisclaimer generatorAlabama 2026 elections

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Frequently asked questions

Does Alabama regulate AI in political ads?

Yes. Alabama's 2024 law (HB 172, Act 2024-349, Ala. Code 17-5-16.1) makes it a crime to distribute AI-produced materially deceptive image, audio or video of a person within 90 days before an election, knowing it is false and intending to harm a candidate and deceive voters. A disclaimer stating the media was manipulated by technical means and depicts speech or conduct that did not occur is a safe harbor (the statute offers suggested wording that is sufficient but not mandatory), and edited real footage must also cite the original source. A first offense is a Class A misdemeanor and a repeat within five years is a Class D felony, and the Attorney General, the person depicted, an injured candidate or a voter group can get a permanent injunction. Key law (HB 172 (2024), Act 2024-349, Ala. Code 17-5-16.1).

What AI disclaimer does Alabama require on political ads?

HB 172 (2024), Act 2024-349, Ala. Code 17-5-16.1 requires: "This media has been manipulated by technical means and depicts speech or conduct that did not occur." Format: The creator, sponsor or purchaser must include a disclaimer in any presentation informing the viewer both that the media has been manipulated by technical means and depicts speech or conduct that did not occur; the quoted wording is declared "sufficient, but not necessary." Video: appears throughout the entire video, clearly visible and readable by the average viewer, in an easily readable size, in the same language as the video. Audio only: read at the beginning and end in a clearly spoken manner, at a pitch easily heard by the average listener, in the same language. Image: clearly visible and readable, in the same language. If the media was made by editing an existing image, audio or video, it must also include a citation directing the audience to the original source of the unedited version. Distributors may not intentionally remove a disclaimer.

What is the penalty for a deceptive political deepfake in Alabama?

Criminal: First violation: Class A misdemeanor (up to 1 year jail). Second violation within five years: Class D felony. Private lawsuits: The Attorney General, the depicted individual, a candidate who is or is likely to be injured, or an entity representing the interests of voters likely to be deceived may seek permanent injunctive relief. The plaintiff must prove by clear and convincing evidence that the defendant knew the media was false. Frivolous complaints can be dismissed with fees to the defendant; a winning plaintiff other than the AG may recover costs and attorney fees.

When does the Alabama political deepfake law apply?

within 90 days before an election. It covers any image, audio, or video produced by artificial intelligence that falsely depicts an individual engaging in speech or conduct they did not engage in, such that a reasonable viewer or listener would believe it was real.

Can a campaign use an AI voice for robocalls in Alabama?

Alabama has no statute specific to AI voices or political robocalls. Its telemarketing laws (Alabama Telemarketing Act, Ala. Code 8-19A, and Telephone Solicitations Act, Ala. Code 8-19C) target sales calls. The main state rule that reaches AI political calls is the deepfake law: an AI voice of a candidate in a robocall within 90 days of an election is audio covered by Ala. Code 17-5-16.1 and needs the disclaimer read at the beginning and end. Under federal law, the FCC ruled in February 2024 that AI-generated voices are "artificial" voices under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act, so prerecorded or AI voice calls to cell phones need prior express consent, and every such call must identify the caller at the start.

How many political AI laws does Alabama have?

This tracker counts 1 Alabama AI law touching politics and elections as of October 5, 2026: 1 on elections.

Sources

Verified October 5, 2026 against official legislature and statute pages. This page summarizes Alabama law for campaigns and is not legal advice.