Law / United States / 
Maryland
SB 8 / Ch. 445 (2026), AI and Deepfake Identity Fraud
Md. Code Ann., Crim. Law §8-301(f)(2)
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What follows is LexLint's own research summary of this law, not legal advice.
In force in 8 days, effective 1 October 2026.
An AI prohibited practices rule binding public and private bodies.
As of 6 September 2026.
What it requires
- This law is enacted but does not take effect until October 1, 2026; what follows applies from that date.
- Do not knowingly, willfully, and with fraudulent intent use artificial intelligence or a deepfake representation to impersonate, falsely depict, or claim to represent another person with intent to defraud, mislead, or cause physical injury, serious emotional distress, or economic damages to that person or anyone else.
- A victim of this conduct may bring a civil action and seek an injunction and other appropriate relief.
If you get it wrong
Criminal exposureYes
Private right of actionYes
Criminal exposure note
A violation involving one victim is a felony punishable by imprisonment not exceeding 5 years or a fine not exceeding $10,000, or both; a violation involving two or more victims is a felony punishable by imprisonment not exceeding 10 years or a fine not exceeding $15,000, or both.
What it makes you log
Logging duty
Section 8-301(f)(2) prohibits using artificial intelligence or a deepfake representation to impersonate or falsely depict a person, and a companion clause in the same subsection separately prohibits creating or distributing false records with intent to defraud or harm. That second clause criminalizes fabricating records as part of the offense; neither clause imposes a duty on anyone to create or keep a genuine log or record.
- Kind
- None
- As of
- 21 September 2026
Who checks it
Audit expectation
none
What this law does
Drafted with AI from the cited sources under the direction of UnGovr staff. UnGovr holds editorial responsibility for this page.
Enacted May 12, 2026 as Chapter 445 and taking effect October 1, 2026, this law extends Maryland's identity-fraud statute to bar knowingly, willfully, and with fraudulent intent using artificial intelligence or a deepfake representation to impersonate, falsely depict, or claim to represent another person with intent to defraud, mislead, or cause harm. A victim of that conduct may bring a civil action and seek an injunction and other appropriate relief.
A first-tier violation involving one victim is a felony, and a violation involving two or more victims carries a higher penalty tier.
When LexLint raises it
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Read the law
official chapter law text, Maryland General Assembly
Every line above is drawn from the primary source linked here, read on the date shown. This is a research summary, not legal advice.