Church of Jesus Christ backs bill against AI deepfakes

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has taken a rare step into public policy by supporting a Utah measure addressing the misuse of artificial intelligence, particularly deepfake technology. The proposed law, known as the Identity Protection Modifications bill, seeks to prevent individuals from being falsely portrayed through AI-generated images, audio, or video.

While the church generally maintains political neutrality, it has emphasized that it may engage on issues it considers to have serious moral implications. In this case, the growing ability of AI to convincingly imitate real people has raised concerns about deception, reputational harm, and the erosion of trust in digital content.

If enacted, the legislation would allow individuals to pursue legal action when their identity is misused through AI, including in cases involving defamation. The protections would extend beyond a person’s lifetime, reflecting concerns about long-term misuse of a person’s likeness.

The bill has already passed the Utah Legislature and is awaiting approval from Spencer Cox. Its progress highlights increasing efforts by both religious and civic leaders to address the ethical challenges posed by rapidly advancing technology.