Bill Sponsors
Senator Matthew L. LaMountain
Committee
Senate Judiciary
Summary
Select
This bill updates the state's identity fraud laws to include digital forgery and the impersonation of businesses or other entities. It makes it a felony to create or distribute a fake digital image, video, or audio recording (often called a deepfake) of a person without their permission if it is meant to deceive and commit fraud. The bill also expands the definition of identification to include things like logos and trademarks. Additionally, it removes a previous rule that required a person to possess five or more fake IDs to be charged with certain identity fraud offenses.
Analysis
Pros for Progressives
- Protects vulnerable individuals, including the elderly and disadvantaged, from emerging forms of digital exploitation and financial fraud using deepfakes.
- Expressly protects free speech by exempting constitutionally protected activities, ensuring that satire, parody, and protest are not criminalized.
- Holds individuals accountable for impersonating entities or businesses, which helps protect consumers and community members from deceptive corporate scams.
Cons for Progressives
- Expands felony charges by removing the requirement to possess at least five fake IDs, potentially leading to harsh punishments for minor offenders.
- Exempts technology developers and providers from liability, which allows powerful tech corporations to avoid accountability for the harmful tools they create.
- Grants broad exemptions to law enforcement officers, which could be exploited to justify the deceptive use of digital forgeries during investigations, raising civil rights concerns.
Pros for Conservatives
- Strengthens the rule of law by creating strict penalties for those who commit identity fraud using new digital forgery and deepfake technologies.
- Protects corporate freedom and property by making it illegal to impersonate a business or entity and by defining logos and trademarks as protected means of identification.
- Shields technology companies from liability for how their products are used, protecting free enterprise and innovation from burdensome government regulation.
Cons for Conservatives
- Contains subjective language regarding what constitutes a forged digital likeness, which could be weaponized by the government to prosecute political opponents for sharing memes or edited videos.
- Gives law enforcement blanket exemptions to use digital forgeries, potentially allowing the government to deceive citizens and infringe on personal liberties and due process.
- Expands the definition of identity fraud, giving state prosecutors more avenues to aggressively target individuals for possessing even a single unapproved identification document.
Constitutional Concerns
Low risk. While regulating digital forgeries (deepfakes) raises First Amendment free speech concerns, the bill explicitly exempts "constitutionally protected activity". However, determining what constitutes a "forged digital likeness" meant to "defraud or injure" versus protected political satire or parody could lead to minor due process and free speech challenges in court.
Impact Overview
Groups Affected
- Victims of identity fraud
- Technology developers
- Law enforcement officers
- Business owners
- Elderly adults
Towns Affected
All
Cost to Taxpayers
None
Revenue Generated
Amount unknown
BillBuddy Impact Ratings
Importance
Measures population affected and overall level of impact.
Freedom Impact
Level of individual freedom impacted by the bill.
Public Services
How much the bill is likely to impact one or more public services.
Regulatory
Estimated regulatory burden imposed on the subject(s) of the bill.
Clarity of Bill Language
How clear the language of the bill is. Higher ambiguity equals a lower score.
Enforcement Provisions
Measures enforcement provisions and penalties for non-compliance (if applicable).
Environmental Impact
Impact the bill will have on the environment, positive or negative.
Privacy Impact
Impact the bill is likely to have on the privacy of individuals.
Bill Status
Current Status
Held
Comm Passed
Floor Passed
Law
History
• 06/01/2026 Introduced, referred to Senate Judiciary
• 06/01/2026 Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration (06/03/2026)
• 06/01/2026 Scheduled for hearing and/or consideration (06/03/2026)
Bill Text
SECTION 1. Sections 11-49.1-2 and 11-49.1-3 of the General Laws in Chapter 11-49.1 entitled "Impersonation and Identity Fraud" are hereby amended to read as follows:
11-49.1-2. Definitions.
As used in this chapter:
(1) “Document-making implement” means any implement, impression, electronic device, or computer hardware or software, that is specifically configured or primarily used for making an identification document, a false identification document, or another document-making implement;
(2) “Identification document” means a document made or card issued by or under the authority of the United States Government, a state, political subdivision of a state, a foreign government, political subdivision of a foreign government, an international governmental or an international quasi-governmental organization which, when completed with information concerning a particular individual, is of a type intended or commonly accepted for the purpose of identification of individuals;
(3) “Digital forgery” means a person:
(i) Participates in the generation, creation, or distribution of a forged digital likeness of a person or entity as genuine to facilitate fraud; and
(ii) Knows or reasonably should know the visual representation or audio recording is a forged digital likeness.
(4) "Forged digital likeness" means a computer- or other electronic system-generated visual representation of an actual and identifiable individual or audio recording of an actual and identifiable individual's voice that:
(i) Has been created, adapted or modified to closely resemble a genuine visual representation or audio record of the individual;
(ii) Is likely to deceive a reasonable person to believe that the visual representation or audio recording is genuine;
(iii) Is created and distributed without the consent of the depicted individual; and
(iv) The creation and distribution without the consent of the depicted individual or entity is not otherwise protected by state or federal law.
(5) "Entity" means any corporation, limited liability company, trust, estate, partnership, incorporated or unincorporated association or organization, and any other legal entity or combination of entities, including any state, or municipal government and any subdivision, branch, department, or agency thereof.
(3)(6) “Means of identification” means any name, or number, or other data unique to a person or entity that may be used, alone or in conjunction with any other information, to identify a specific individual or entity, including any:
(i) Name, social security number, date of birth, official state or government issued driver’s license or identification number, alien registration number, government passport number, employer or taxpayer identification number, logo, trademark, or other mark used to identify an entity;
(ii) Unique biometric data, such as fingerprint, voice print, retina or iris image, or other unique physical representation;
(iii) Unique electronic identification number, address, or routing code; or
(iv) Telecommunication identifying information or access device as defined in 18 U.S.C. § 1029(e).
(4) “Produce” means to manufacture, alter, authenticate, or assemble an identification document;
(5) “State” includes any state of the United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and any other commonwealth, possession, or territory of the United States; and
(6) “Financial information” means any of the following information identifiable to an individual that concerns the amount and/or condition of an individual’s assets, liabilities or credit:
(i) Account numbers and balances;
(ii) Transactional information concerning any account; or
(iii) Codes, passwords, social security numbers, tax identification numbers, driver’s license LC006555 - Page 2 of 5 numbers or any other information held for the purpose of account access or transaction initiation or processing.
(7) “Elderly adult” means a person sixty (60) years of age or older.
11-49.1-3. Identity fraud.
(a) Any person who shall:
(1)knowingly Knowingly and without lawful authority produce an identification document or a false identification document;
(2)knowingly Knowingly transfer an identification document or a false identification document knowing that the document was stolen obtained or produced without lawful authority;
(3)knowingly Knowingly possess with intent to use unlawfully or transfer unlawfully five (5) or more identification documents (other than those issued lawfully for the use of the possessor) or false identification documents;
(4)knowingly Knowingly possess an identification document (other than one issued lawfully for the use of the possessor) or a false identification document, or financial information with the intent that the document or financial information be used to defraud the United States, the State of Rhode Island, any political subdivision of it or any public or private entity or person;
(5)knowingly Knowingly transfer, or possess a document-making implement with the intent that the document-making implement will be used in the production of a false identification document or another document-making implement which will be so used;
(6)knowingly Knowingly possess a false identification document that is or appears to be a genuine identification document of the United States, the State of Rhode Island or any political subdivision of it or any public or private entity or person, living or dead which is stolen or produced without lawful authority knowing that the document was stolen or produced without such authority; or
(7) Knowingly impersonate an entity or person, living or dead, with intent to defraud or injure any individual, business, or the State of Rhode Island, any political subdivision thereof, or any city or town;
(8) Knowingly engage in digital forgery; or
(7)(9) knowingly Knowingly transfer or use with intent to defraud, without lawful authority, a means of identification or financial information of another person living or dead, with the intent to commit, or to aid or abet, any unlawful activity that constitutes a violation of federal, state or local law; shall be guilty of a felony and shall be subject to the penalties set forth in § 11- 49.1-4.
(b) The provisions of this section shall not apply to any person who has not reached his or LC006555 - Page 3 of 5 her twenty-first (21st) birthday who misrepresents or misstates his or her age through the presentation of any document in order to enter any premises licensed for the retail sale of alcoholic beverages for the purpose of purchasing or having served or delivered to him or her alcoholic beverages or attempting to purchase or have another person purchase for him or her any alcoholic beverage pursuant to § 3-8-6.
(c) Exceptions. This section shall not apply to:
(1) A constitutionally protected activity;
(2) A law enforcement officer engaged in the performance of the law enforcement officer's official duties;
(3) A provider or developer of any technology used in the creation of a visual representation or audio recording; or
(4) An activity otherwise protected by state or federal law.
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.
11-49.1-2. Definitions.
As used in this chapter:
(1) “Document-making implement” means any implement, impression, electronic device, or computer hardware or software, that is specifically configured or primarily used for making an identification document, a false identification document, or another document-making implement;
(2) “Identification document” means a document made or card issued by or under the authority of the United States Government, a state, political subdivision of a state, a foreign government, political subdivision of a foreign government, an international governmental or an international quasi-governmental organization which, when completed with information concerning a particular individual, is of a type intended or commonly accepted for the purpose of identification of individuals;
(3) “Digital forgery” means a person:
(i) Participates in the generation, creation, or distribution of a forged digital likeness of a person or entity as genuine to facilitate fraud; and
(ii) Knows or reasonably should know the visual representation or audio recording is a forged digital likeness.
(4) "Forged digital likeness" means a computer- or other electronic system-generated visual representation of an actual and identifiable individual or audio recording of an actual and identifiable individual's voice that:
(i) Has been created, adapted or modified to closely resemble a genuine visual representation or audio record of the individual;
(ii) Is likely to deceive a reasonable person to believe that the visual representation or audio recording is genuine;
(iii) Is created and distributed without the consent of the depicted individual; and
(iv) The creation and distribution without the consent of the depicted individual or entity is not otherwise protected by state or federal law.
(5) "Entity" means any corporation, limited liability company, trust, estate, partnership, incorporated or unincorporated association or organization, and any other legal entity or combination of entities, including any state, or municipal government and any subdivision, branch, department, or agency thereof.
(i) Name, social security number, date of birth, official state or government issued driver’s license or identification number, alien registration number, government passport number, employer or taxpayer identification number, logo, trademark, or other mark used to identify an entity;
(ii) Unique biometric data, such as fingerprint, voice print, retina or iris image, or other unique physical representation;
(iii) Unique electronic identification number, address, or routing code; or
(iv) Telecommunication identifying information or access device as defined in 18 U.S.C. § 1029(e).
(4) “Produce” means to manufacture, alter, authenticate, or assemble an identification document;
(5) “State” includes any state of the United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and any other commonwealth, possession, or territory of the United States; and
(6) “Financial information” means any of the following information identifiable to an individual that concerns the amount and/or condition of an individual’s assets, liabilities or credit:
(i) Account numbers and balances;
(ii) Transactional information concerning any account; or
(iii) Codes, passwords, social security numbers, tax identification numbers, driver’s license LC006555 - Page 2 of 5 numbers or any other information held for the purpose of account access or transaction initiation or processing.
(7) “Elderly adult” means a person sixty (60) years of age or older.
11-49.1-3. Identity fraud.
(a) Any person who shall:
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
(5)
(6)
(7) Knowingly impersonate an entity or person, living or dead, with intent to defraud or injure any individual, business, or the State of Rhode Island, any political subdivision thereof, or any city or town;
(8) Knowingly engage in digital forgery; or
(b) The provisions of this section shall not apply to any person who has not reached his or LC006555 - Page 3 of 5 her twenty-first (21st) birthday who misrepresents or misstates his or her age through the presentation of any document in order to enter any premises licensed for the retail sale of alcoholic beverages for the purpose of purchasing or having served or delivered to him or her alcoholic beverages or attempting to purchase or have another person purchase for him or her any alcoholic beverage pursuant to § 3-8-6.
(c) Exceptions. This section shall not apply to:
(1) A constitutionally protected activity;
(2) A law enforcement officer engaged in the performance of the law enforcement officer's official duties;
(3) A provider or developer of any technology used in the creation of a visual representation or audio recording; or
(4) An activity otherwise protected by state or federal law.
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.
