An Act Establishing A Civil Action For The Office Of The Attorney General And A Private Right Of Action For Victims Of Unlawful Dissemination Of A Synthetically Created Intimate Image.
Summary
HB 5312 creates a new civil remedy for people harmed by the unlawful dissemination of a synthetically created intimate image, often described as a deepfake intimate image. The bill allows an affected individual to sue in Superior Court to stop further distribution and recover economic and noneconomic damages, including emotional distress and punitive damages, as well as costs and attorneys’ fees. It also permits courts, at the victim’s request, to take steps to protect the victim’s identity during the case.
The bill also directs covered online platforms to create a notice-and-removal process for victims and the Attorney General to request takedown of such images. Once a valid request is received, a platform must remove the image and make reasonable efforts to remove copies within 48 hours. Platforms that act in good faith under the law are shielded from liability for removing or disabling access to the content, while violations can trigger civil penalties sought by the Attorney General of up to $25,000 per day for each harmed individual. The act takes effect October 1, 2026.
Impact
This bill adds a new private right of action to Connecticut law for victims of unlawful dissemination of synthetically created intimate images and creates an enforcement mechanism for the Attorney General against noncompliant covered platforms. It incorporates existing statutory definitions for terms such as “disseminate,” “harm,” and “synthetically created image,” while defining “intimate image” for purposes of the new remedy. The measure affects individuals who are depicted in nonconsensual synthetic sexual imagery, online platforms covered by federal law, and the Attorney General’s enforcement authority, while preserving other civil remedies already available under state law.
Sentiment
The available voting history shows strong, unanimous support for the bill at each stage: the Judiciary Committee voted 41-0, the House passed it 146-0, and the Senate passed it 33-0. That pattern suggests broad bipartisan agreement that victims of deepfake intimate imagery need stronger legal protections and faster removal mechanisms from online platforms. No committee transcript was provided, so there is no recorded floor or committee debate to indicate significant opposition.
Contention
No formal opposition is reflected in the voting record, but the bill’s structure suggests the main policy issues are how quickly platforms must act, the scope of their obligations to remove copies, and the size of potential penalties for noncompliance. Another possible point of concern is balancing victim privacy and enforcement with platform liability protections and due process for content removal. The bill addresses some of those concerns by providing good-faith immunity for platforms and by allowing victims to request confidential proceedings.
An Act Concerning Civil Actions For Damages Resulting From An Alleged Deprivation Of Rights Committed By A Police Officer, Use Of Force, And Searches Of Motor Vehicles And Pedestrians.