1. United States
2. Wash.
3. Letter

I am writing to urge you to introduce or support federal legislation that prohibits government agencies from creating and disseminating digitally manipulated images of private citizens without clear disclosure. Recent events demonstrate the urgent need for such protections. On Thursday morning, the official White House account posted a digitally altered photograph of civil rights attorney Nekima Levy Armstrong that fabricated tears streaming down her face during her arrest. The original image posted by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem thirty minutes earlier showed Armstrong with a calm, neutral expression. The manipulated version was shared without any disclosure that it had been altered, captioned to label Armstrong a "far-left agitator," and amplified by Vice President JD Vance. Armstrong's attorney Jordan Kushner, who was present at the arrest, confirmed she was "completely calm and composed and rational" and called the manipulation "outrageous defamation." Digital forensics expert Hany Farid from UC Berkeley confirmed the image was likely altered using AI. When questioned by CBS News, the White House Deputy Communications Director responded that "the memes will continue." This represents government-sponsored defamation of a private citizen with no accountability or consequences. Currently, no federal laws regulate the creation and dissemination of nonconsensual digitally altered images beyond intimate imagery covered by the Take It Down Act. This gap allows the government to fabricate propaganda targeting private citizens who exercise their First Amendment rights. Armstrong was arrested for organizing a protest over ICE agent Jonathan Ross killing Renee Good, a 37-year-old U.S. citizen and mother of three, on January 7th. The fabricated image remains online, viewed by millions who formed their impression based on the fake. When the federal government itself is the defamer, citizens have no meaningful recourse. I urge you to act immediately to establish clear legal prohibitions against government use of AI-manipulated content depicting private citizens, with mandatory disclosure requirements and penalties for violations.