Demand Federal Legislation to Prohibit Government Use of AI-Manipulated Images

I am writing to urge you to introduce or support legislation that prohibits federal 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 manipulation was done without disclosure and captioned her as a "far-left agitator." Vice President JD Vance amplified this fake image to millions of followers. Digital forensics expert Hany Farid from UC Berkeley confirmed the image was likely altered using AI. Armstrong's attorney, Jordan Kushner, who witnessed the arrest, confirmed she was "completely calm and composed and rational" and called the manipulation "outrageous defamation." When questioned by CBS News, the White House press office responded by linking to a statement declaring "The memes will continue." This represents government-sponsored defamation of a private citizen with no accountability. Armstrong was arrested for organizing a protest after ICE agent Jonathan Ross killed Renee Good, a 37-year-old U.S. citizen and mother of three, on January 7th. 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. NBC News documented dozens of pieces of synthetic media on official administration accounts since January 2025, with the Armstrong image marking an escalation from attacking political figures to targeting ordinary citizens. This practice undermines public trust in government communications and leaves citizens with no recourse when defamed by federal agencies. I urge you to act immediately to establish clear legal prohibitions against government use of AI-manipulated imagery and require transparent disclosure when any digital alterations are made to photographs released by federal agencies.