House passes ‘Brooke’s Law’ to give deepfake victims recourse

Brooke Curry. Image via A.G. Gancarski.

“Brooke’s Law” (SB 700) is one step closer to becoming law after the House passed it unanimously, and with Senate consideration pending.

The legislation was inspired by what Jacksonville’s Brooke Curry went through in 2023, when a deepfake nude of her was posted to social media. The measure would conceivably create a mechanism to stop the victimization she suffered from happening to others.

The measure would require internet platforms to develop and prominently promote a policy by the end of 2025 for removing deepfake images and videos of this type after someone is victimized in this way.

The bill, which envisions the Florida Unfair Trade and Deceptive Practices Act as its enforcement mechanism, would expand on legislation championed by former Senate Democratic Leader Lauren Book that imposed criminal and civil penalties by creating law to force sites to take the objectionable image down.

Members from both parties voiced support for the bill.

“This bill empowers victims to know that they have recourse,” said Democratic Rep. Ashley Gantt ahead of the House vote.

The Senate temporarily postponed consideration of the bill on Wednesday, a procedural move given that the House was still in Session and could not certify the bill timely.