Bipartisan House Ethics Warning About Members and Their Staffs Circulating Deep Fakes

New memo (via Brian Svoboda):

However, intentional distortions of audio and/or visual representations can be far more damaging. Members have a duty, and a First Amendment right, to contribute to the public discourse, including through parody and satire. However, manipulation of images and videos that are intended to mislead the public can harm that discourse and reflect discreditably on the House.
Moreover, Members or their staff posting deep fakes “could erode public trust, affect public discourse, or sway an election.”
Accordingly, Members, officers, and employees posting deep fakes or other audio-visual distortions intended to mislead the public may be in violation of the Code of Official Conduct.

Prior to disseminating any image, video, or audio file by electronic means, including social media, Members and staff are expected to take reasonable efforts to consider whether such representations are deep fakes or ar intentionally distorted to mislead the public.

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