NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — Creating and sharing deceptive media made with artificial intelligence is now a crime in New Jersey and open to lawsuits under a new state law.

Democratic Governor Phil Murphy signed legislation Wednesday making the creation and dissemination of so-called deceptive deepfake media a crime punishable by up to five years in prison, and establishing a basis for lawsuits against perpetrators.

New Jersey joins a growing list of states enacting measures taking aim at media created using generative AI. At least 20 states have passed similar legislation that targets such media involving elections.

As of last year, governors in more than a dozen states had signed laws cracking down on digitally created or altered child sexual abuse imagery, according to a review by The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

The signatory legislation in New Jersey stems in part from the experience of Westfield High School student Francesca Mani, who stood alongside the governor as he signed the bill. Francesca shared her story of becoming a victim of a deepfake video two years ago, resulting in the perpetrator receiving only a short suspension due to the absence of laws against such media.

Francesca stated, ‘Doing nothing is no longer an option,’ referring to her push for the legislation and her recognition as an anti-deepfake activist by Time last year.

The measure defines a deepfake as any video or audio recording or image that reasonably appears to depict someone doing something they did not actually do.

In addition to potential prison time, the law establishes civil penalties allowing victims to file lawsuits against offenders.

Related: AI Revolution: How artificial intelligence could reshape public safety

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