Deepfakes Heatmap

New Jersey P.L. 2025, c. 40 was approved on April 2, 2025 and took effect immediately. The law creates a criminal offense for producing or sharing deceptive audio or visual deepfakes when the purpose is to commit or assist in another crime — including harassment, cyber-harassment, child endangerment, or fraud. Victims can also bring a civil lawsuit for damages.

• New Jersey's rule reaches further than most — it isn't limited to elections. It applies anywhere a deepfake is created or shared in furtherance of another crime.
• Victims have a parallel civil path — they can sue for damages directly, separate from any criminal prosecution. That makes it a useful rule for families when a deepfake involves a minor.
• Carve-outs are the usual ones: satire, parody, news reporting, teaching, and content a reasonable person wouldn't believe is real are exempt. Platform providers and carriers generally aren't held liable for hosting or distributing covered content.

• Read P.L. 2025, c. 40 on the New Jersey Legislature's site for the exact list of underlying crimes the deepfake provision attaches to.
• If you're looking at a specific deepfake involving your child, the New Jersey civil-court path is what the statute writes — a New Jersey family-law or civil-rights attorney can shape a damages or injunctive request.