Pennsylvania bill requiring AI disclosure advances in House
Pennsylvania legislation that would require companies to disclose when content is artificially generated has passed out of the House Communications and Technology Committee. H.B. 95, introduced by State Rep. Chris Pielli, D-Chester, would apply to content used to sell consumer goods.
The bill's core requirement is straightforward: AI-generated content must be labeled as such. Pielli said disclosures should appear in the same medium as the content itself and be "clear and conspicuous" to help consumers make informed purchasing decisions.
"If it's AI, it has to say it's AI," Pielli said.
The legislation also targets deliberate misinformation. Pielli cited concerns that as AI becomes more sophisticated, distinguishing real content from generated content becomes harder for consumers. False or misleading AI-generated images and text could spread without clear attribution.
Current consumer protection law places the burden on buyers to verify what they're purchasing. Pielli questioned how consumers can fulfill that responsibility when they cannot tell whether content is authentic.
"How can a consumer fulfill that responsibility when they don't know if what they are looking at is real or not?" he said.
The bill passed the House in April 2024 with bipartisan support, receiving 146 votes in favor and 54 against. It was originally introduced as H.B. 1598 during the 2023-24 session. The bill then moved to the Senate Committee on Communications and Technology, where it stalled without further action.
For PR and communications professionals, the legislation signals growing regulatory scrutiny of AI-generated content in consumer-facing materials. Organizations using AI for marketing, product descriptions, or promotional content may need to adjust disclosure practices if similar bills advance in other states.
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