Kentucky
Kentucky Deepfake Laws: AI Images, Voice Cloning & Penalties (2026)
Independently fact-checked against primary sources (last audited August 16, 2026). · Reviewed by the RecordingLaw editorial team. · Law checked current as of August 16, 2026. · 7 primary sources cited on this page. How we verify our legal content
Kentucky law does reach nonconsensual intimate deepfakes of adults. criminalizes distributing private erotic matter without consent, and KRS 531.010(8), amended effective July 15, 2024, defines that term to expressly include a computer-generated image or digital reproduction of an identifiable person. Two other statutes add coverage: gives political candidates a civil remedy against AI-manipulated election media, and (2024) eliminates the need to prove a real child existed when prosecuting AI-generated child sexual abuse material.
Information last verified on August 30, 2026. This article has not yet been reviewed by a licensed attorney.
Is It Illegal to Make a Deepfake of Someone in Kentucky?
It depends on the type of content and the intended use. Kentucky does not have a single law that says "deepfakes are illegal," but several statutes can reach deepfake conduct depending on the bucket.
For sexual content involving adults, is the state's main tool. It covers distribution of "private erotic matter" without the depicted person's written consent, with intent to profit or cause harm. That operative term is defined chapter-wide, and in 2024 the General Assembly rewrote the definition to reach synthetic imagery. KRS 531.010(8) now covers an obscene visual image "including a photograph, film, video recording, computer-generated image, or digital reproduction, of an identifiable person," and KRS 531.010(3) defines a computer-generated image as a depiction "created, adapted, or modified by a computer to appear to be an identifiable person." No judicial extension is needed for a deepfake to qualify. The contested element is obscenity, not whether the image is synthetic.
For children, Kentucky is explicit: eliminates the prosecution's burden of proving an actual minor was used, so AI-generated child sexual abuse material can be charged under the full Chapter 531 framework, which carries felony penalties up to Class B.
For political content, creates a narrower civil remedy focused on elections. It does not criminalize election deepfakes outright; it gives candidates the right to seek an injunction requiring a disclosure label, plus attorney fees.
What Kentucky does not cover: deepfakes of private individuals for harassment, satire, or commercial use unrelated to elections fall outside state law as of mid-2026. Common law privacy torts, and for sexual content the federal TAKE IT DOWN Act, fill some of that gap.
Sexual and Intimate Deepfakes
Kentucky's primary tool is KRS 531.120, which makes it a crime to intentionally distribute "private erotic matter" to a third party without the written consent of the person depicted, when done with intent to profit, harm, harass, intimidate, threaten, or coerce, and when the disclosure would cause a reasonable person to suffer harm.
Two chapter-wide definitions do the work for deepfakes. KRS 531.010(8) defines private erotic matter as an obscene visual image, "including a photograph, film, video recording, computer-generated image, or digital reproduction, of an identifiable person," depicting sexual conduct or the exposure of uncovered genitals, buttocks, or the nipple of the female breast, and it adds that "a person may be identifiable from the image itself or from information distributed in connection with the visual image." KRS 531.010(3) defines a computer-generated image as any visual depiction "created, adapted, or modified by a computer to appear to be an identifiable person." Both definitions took effect July 15, 2024 under 2024 Ky. Acts ch. 15, sec. 2.
The penalty structure is: Class A misdemeanor for a first offense, Class D felony for each subsequent offense. If the distribution is for profit or gain, the penalty rises to Class D felony for the first offense and Class C felony for each subsequent offense. Notably, KRS 531.120(6) provides that a conviction does not result in sex-offender registration.
The real limit for deepfake cases is obscenity, not origin. The definition is not origin-based, so it does not matter that the image was never a private recording in the first place. But private erotic matter must be an obscene visual image, and KRS 531.010(7) sets a three-part test: the predominant appeal of the matter, taken as a whole, is to prurient interest in sexual conduct; the matter depicts sexual conduct in a patently offensive way; and the matter, taken as a whole, lacks serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value. A defendant can contest that element, and Kentucky courts have not yet applied the test to an AI-generated image. The exceptions in KRS 531.120(2), including disclosures of material that constitutes a matter of public concern, are also available.
(effective June 27, 2025) adds a related offense: sexual extortion. A person commits sexual extortion when they threaten to distribute sexual imagery or nudity of another person in order to coerce that person into producing more material, paying money, or engaging in sexual conduct. This reaches the sextortion use case where an AI-generated image is used as a threat, even if the image itself has not been distributed.
For minors, KRS 531.306 (effective July 15, 2024) is explicit and strong: in any prosecution under to 531.370 involving a computer-generated image of a minor, the Commonwealth is not required to prove the actual identity, age, or existence of the minor. This means a prosecutor can charge AI-generated child sexual abuse material without locating a real victim. The underlying offense, use of a minor in a sexual performance under , is a Class C felony, rising to a Class B felony if the minor depicted is under 16.
Federal law adds a further layer. The federal TAKE IT DOWN Act (Public Law 119-12), signed May 19, 2025, created a federal crime for knowingly publishing nonconsensual intimate visual depictions of real adults, expressly including AI-generated "digital forgeries." The penalty is up to two years in federal prison (three years if the victim is a minor). Platforms have a 48-hour removal obligation once a victim submits a notice.
Election and Political Deepfakes
Kentucky enacted KRS 117.322 as part of 2025 Ky. Acts ch. 66, sec. 5, effective March 24, 2025, and amended it in 2026 Ky. Acts ch. 161, sec. 106, effective July 15, 2026. It is a civil statute, not a criminal one.
Any candidate for elected office whose appearance, action, or speech is altered through synthetic media in an electioneering communication may seek injunctive relief against the sponsor. The court can order the sponsor to add a clear and conspicuous disclosure. A prevailing party may also recover reasonable attorney fees.
The definition of "synthetic media" in (20) is narrow: it covers audio or video recordings of an identifiable natural individual that have been intentionally manipulated using generative adversarial network techniques to create a realistic but false depiction without the person's consent and that produce a fundamentally different impression than the unaltered original. Still images are not covered.
"Electioneering communication" under (8) reaches cable, internet, television, radio, electronic billboards, and phone calls to residences, distributed within 45 days before a primary or regular election. Bona fide news coverage is exempt.
It is an affirmative defense that the electioneering communication already includes a clear and conspicuous disclosure identifying the content as synthetic. This disclosure-as-defense structure makes KRS 117.322 a labeling law rather than an outright ban. Courts in other states have struck down broader election deepfake statutes on First Amendment grounds, and Kentucky's disclosure-focused approach is designed to reduce that risk.
AI Voice Cloning and Digital Likeness
Kentucky's right-of-publicity statute, (enacted 1984), recognizes that a person has property rights in their name and likeness. For public figures, commercial use of the name or likeness without written consent is prohibited for 50 years after death. However, the statute was written decades before voice cloning and AI digital replicas existed. It does not mention voice, does not extend to private individuals, and contains no AI-specific language.
In practice, this means Kentucky has no law specifically targeting unauthorized AI voice clones of living individuals. Common law misappropriation and right-of-privacy torts may provide some recourse, but statutory remedies are limited.
Tennessee's ELVIS Act (2024 Tenn. Pub. Ch. 588, amending Tenn. Code Ann. 47-25-1101 et seq., effective July 1, 2024) is the national reference point for voice-clone legislation: it renamed the state's Personal Rights Protection Act the Ensuring Likeness, Voice, and Image Security Act and added voice to the protected personal rights. Kentucky has not passed an equivalent law as of mid-2026.
The NO FAKES Act (S.4591, 119th Congress) would create a federal right of publicity covering unauthorized AI voice and likeness replicas. As of June 2026, it has not passed either chamber of Congress and is not law.
For commercial impersonation, the FTC Impersonation Rule (16 CFR Part 461), effective April 1, 2024, prohibits deceptive impersonation of government entities and businesses, including through AI voice cloning. The FCC has ruled that AI-generated voices in robocalls are "artificial" under the TCPA (FCC 24-17, February 2024), making AI voice-clone robocalls to personal phones without prior express consent illegal nationwide.
See Kentucky AI Laws for the broader framework on automated decision-making and AI governance requirements that apply in the state, which is distinct from the deepfake-specific rules covered here.
Federal Law That Applies in Kentucky
The TAKE IT DOWN Act (Public Law 119-12) is a significant recent development for Kentuckians. Signed May 19, 2025, it is the first federal law to expressly criminalize nonconsensual intimate deepfakes of adults. It covers AI-generated "digital forgeries" alongside real images. Victims can submit a notice to platforms, which must then remove the content within 48 hours (a platform obligation in effect since May 19, 2026). The FTC enforces platform obligations.
Federal child sexual abuse material law (18 U.S.C. 2256(8)(B)) has covered computer-generated images since the PROTECT Act of 2003: any digital or computer-generated image indistinguishable from a real minor in sexually explicit conduct is covered, with no First Amendment defense for indistinguishable material.
The DEFIANCE Act (S.1837, 119th Congress) is pending legislation only. It would create a federal civil cause of action with liquidated damages of $150,000 ($250,000 if the conduct involved actual or attempted sexual assault, stalking, or harassment) for victims of sexual deepfakes. The 118th Congress version passed the Senate in July 2024 but died in the House. The Senate passed the 119th Congress version (S.1837) by unanimous consent on January 13, 2026, but the bill remains pending in the House. Do not rely on it as existing law.
For a detailed breakdown of the DEFIANCE Act's current status, see our coverage at news/defiance-act-deepfake-porn-victims-right-to-sue.
What Victims Can Do
A Kentucky victim of an intimate deepfake has several avenues. First, file a report with local law enforcement citing KRS 531.120 if the image was distributed with intent to harm. The chapter's definitions expressly cover computer-generated images and digital reproductions, so an officer or prosecutor does not need a novel legal theory to treat a deepfake as private erotic matter. If the image was used as a threat, KRS 531.125 (sexual extortion) may apply even if no distribution occurred.
Second, submit a removal notice to the platform under the TAKE IT DOWN Act. Platforms must act within 48 hours. The FTC administers complaints if a platform does not comply.
Third, consult a private attorney about civil claims. Kentucky does not currently have a statutory civil cause of action for adult NCII deepfakes, since KRS 531.120 is a criminal statute, but common law privacy torts (intrusion, false light, appropriation) and intentional infliction of emotional distress claims may be available depending on the facts.
For deepfake content used in political communications, the targeted candidate may seek injunctive relief in the Circuit Court of the county where they reside under KRS 117.322. The burden is on the candidate to show synthetic media was used by clear and convincing evidence.
Penalties at a Glance
| Conduct | Law | Penalty |
|---|---|---|
| Distributing private erotic matter without consent, including a computer-generated image (first offense) | KRS 531.120 with KRS 531.010(8) | Class A misdemeanor |
| Distributing private erotic matter without consent (subsequent offense) | KRS 531.120 | Class D felony |
| Distributing private erotic matter for profit or gain (first offense) | KRS 531.120 | Class D felony |
| Distributing private erotic matter for profit or gain (subsequent) | KRS 531.120 | Class C felony |
| Sexual extortion via threat to distribute sexual images | KRS 531.125 | Class A misdemeanor (base); Class D felony if victim complies or is a minor with age gap |
| Use of a minor in a sexual performance (AI-generated) | KRS 531.310 + 531.306 | Class C felony (Class B if minor under 16) |
| Publishing nonconsensual intimate deepfake (federal) | TAKE IT DOWN Act, Pub. L. 119-12 | Up to 2 years federal prison (3 if minor victim) |
| Election synthetic media without disclosure (civil) | KRS 117.322 | Injunction, attorney fees; non-compliance subject to KRS 121.990(3) penalties |
Every KRS 531.120 row above carries an additional element: the private erotic matter must be an obscene visual image as defined by the three-part test in KRS 531.010(7).
Disclaimer: This article provides general legal information about Kentucky deepfake and AI-generated image laws as of August 2026. It is not legal advice and does not create an attorney-client relationship. Laws in this area are changing rapidly. If you have been harmed by a deepfake or face related charges, consult a licensed Kentucky attorney.
For the full 50-state comparison, see Deepfake and AI Voice Cloning Laws by State.
More Kentucky Laws
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it illegal to make a deepfake of someone in Kentucky?
Creating a deepfake is not automatically a crime under Kentucky law as of mid-2026. What is illegal is distributing an obscene sexual deepfake of an identifiable real person without their written consent and with the intent to harm or profit (KRS 531.120, whose operative term is defined in KRS 531.010(8) to expressly include computer-generated images and digital reproductions), using synthetic media of a political candidate in an election communication without a disclosure (KRS 117.322), and creating AI-generated child sexual abuse material (KRS 531.306 with KRS 531.310). Non-sexual deepfakes for harassment or commercial use fall outside current Kentucky statutes.
Can I sue someone for making a deepfake of me in Kentucky?
Kentucky has no dedicated civil deepfake statute for adults; KRS 531.120 is a criminal statute enforced by prosecutors. Common law torts including false light invasion of privacy, appropriation of likeness (related to KRS 391.170 for public figures), and intentional infliction of emotional distress may support a lawsuit depending on the facts. Political candidates have a specific civil remedy under KRS 117.322 for election synthetic media. The pending federal DEFIANCE Act would add a statutory federal civil action, but it has not been enacted.
Is deepfake porn illegal in Kentucky?
Yes. Distributing a sexual deepfake of an adult is covered by KRS 531.120, which runs from Class A misdemeanor to Class C felony. KRS 531.010(8), amended effective July 15, 2024, defines private erotic matter to expressly include a computer-generated image or digital reproduction of an identifiable person, so no judicial extension of the statute is needed. Two limits still apply: the image must be obscene under the three-part test in KRS 531.010(7), and the distribution must be without written consent and made with intent to profit or to harm. The federal TAKE IT DOWN Act (2025) adds a federal crime and a platform takedown right. AI-generated child sexual abuse material is explicitly covered under KRS 531.306 and carries Class C felony penalties (Class B if the minor depicted is under 16) when charged under KRS 531.310.
Are AI voice clones illegal in Kentucky?
Kentucky has no state law specifically targeting AI voice cloning of living individuals. The FTC Impersonation Rule bans AI voice cloning used to impersonate government entities or businesses. The FCC rules AI voice calls to personal phones without consent illegal under the TCPA. If an AI voice clone is used to extort someone sexually, KRS 531.125 (sexual extortion) may apply. The federal NO FAKES Act would create broader protections but has not passed as of June 2026.
Does Kentucky have an election deepfake law?
Yes. KRS 117.322 gives political candidates a civil remedy against sponsors who use AI-manipulated synthetic media in electioneering communications within 45 days of an election without a clear disclosure. It was created effective March 24, 2025 and amended effective July 15, 2026. The statute defines synthetic media as GAN-manipulated audio or video of an identifiable individual and covers cable, internet, television, and radio communications. It is a disclosure-labeling law, not an outright ban.
What is the TAKE IT DOWN Act and does it apply in Kentucky?
The TAKE IT DOWN Act (Public Law 119-12), signed May 19, 2025, is a federal law that applies in all 50 states including Kentucky. It makes it a federal crime to knowingly publish nonconsensual intimate visual depictions of adults or minors, expressly including AI-generated deepfakes. Victims can notify platforms, which must remove the content within 48 hours. The penalty is up to two years in federal prison (three years if the victim is a minor). It adds to Kentucky law rather than replacing it, since KRS 531.120 already reaches computer-generated intimate images.
What should I do if someone created a deepfake of me in Kentucky?
Start by documenting the content (screenshots, URLs, dates). Submit a removal request to the platform under the TAKE IT DOWN Act; platforms must act within 48 hours. File a police report citing KRS 531.120 if the image was shared with intent to harm or profit, and point the officer to the KRS 531.010(8) definition, which expressly covers computer-generated images. If the deepfake was used as a threat, report it under KRS 531.125 (sexual extortion). Consult a private attorney about civil claims under Kentucky common law torts. For election deepfakes, contact an attorney about injunctive relief under KRS 117.322.
Does Kentucky's right of publicity law cover AI?
Kentucky's right-of-publicity statute, KRS 391.170 (enacted 1984), protects a public figure's name and likeness from commercial exploitation for 50 years after death. It does not mention voice, AI, or digital replicas, and it does not extend to private individuals. Tennessee's ELVIS Act is the current state-law model for AI voice protection; Kentucky has no equivalent as of mid-2026.
Updates
Corrected this page to reflect that Kentucky law already covers AI-generated intimate images: KRS 531.010(8), amended effective July 15, 2024, defines private erotic matter under KRS 531.120 to expressly include computer-generated images, and we added the obscenity element, refreshed the KRS 117.322 effective date, and fixed the Tennessee ELVIS Act citation.
Independently fact-checked against the cited primary sources; governing law re-checked for recent changes
Updated NO FAKES Act federal bill citation to S.4591 (119th Congress, "NO FAKES Act of 2026") and current Senate Judiciary Committee status.
Governing law re-checked for recent changes
Governing law re-checked for recent changes
Reviewed and approved by an editor
The Law Behind This Article
This article rests on the statutory provisions below, held in our own legal record and retrieved from the official source. Tap a section to read the operative text.
Kentucky Revised Statutes, Chapter 531: PORNOGRAPHY
§ 531.120Distribution of sexually explicit images without consentIn forcecited in 9 of our articles
(1) A person is guilty of distribution of sexually explicit images without consent when: (a) He or she intentionally distributes to any third party private erotic matter without the written consent of the person depicted, and does so with the intent to profit, or to harm, harass, intimidate, threaten, or coerce the person depicted; and (b) The disclosure would cause a reasonable person to suffer harm. (2) This section shall not apply to: (a) Images involving voluntary nudity or sexual conduct in public, commercial settings, or in a place where a person does not have a reasonable expectation of privacy; (b) Disclosures made in the public interest, including the reporting of unlawful conduct, or lawful and common practices of law enforcement, criminal reporting, corrections, legal proceedings, or medical treatment; (c) Disclosures of materials that constitute a matter of public concern; or (d) Internet service providers or telecommunications services, or interactive computer services, as defined in 47 U.S.C. sec. 230(f)(2), for content solely provided by another person.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-08-30 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at apps.legislature.ky.gov
Also relied on in: Kentucky Recording Laws (2026): One-Party Consent Rules, Kentucky Video Recording Laws: Surveillance, Privacy, and Legal Limits, Kentucky Voyeurism and Hidden Camera Laws: Offenses, Penalties, and Protections
§ 531.306Proof of actual identity, age, or existence of minor not required for prosecution involving computer-generated imageIn forcecited in 2 of our articles
In any prosecution under KRS 531.300 to 531.370 where the offense involves matter or material portraying a computer-generated image of a minor, the Commonwealth shall not be required to prove the actual identity or age of the minor or that the minor actually exists.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-29 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at apps.legislature.ky.gov
Also relied on in: Kentucky AI Laws and Regulation (2026)
§ 531.310Use of a minor in a sexual performanceIn forcecited in 3 of our articles
(1) A person is guilty of the use of a minor in a sexual performance if he employs, consents to, authorizes or induces a minor to engage in a sexual performance. (2) Use of a minor in a sexual performance is: (a) A Class C felony if the minor so used is less than eighteen (18) years old at the time the minor engages in the prohibited activity; (b) A Class B felony if the minor so used is less than sixteen (16) years old at the time the minor engages in the prohibited activity; and (c) A Class A felony if the minor so used incurs physical injury thereby.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-29 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at apps.legislature.ky.gov
Cited in 42 court opinionsMost recently applied by a court: 2026
Leading cases:
- Payne v. Commonwealth (Kentucky Supreme Court 1981, 623 S.W.2d 867)“…and twenty counts of using a minor in a sexual performance (KRS 531.310). The acts giving rise to this indictme…”
- Purcell v. Commonwealth (Kentucky Supreme Court 2004, 149 S.W.3d 382)“…973 S.W.2d 70, 75 (1998), a case alleging a violation of KRS 531.310 (use of a minor in a sexual performance…”
- Clark v. Commonwealth (Kentucky Supreme Court 2008, 267 S.W.3d 668)“…his convictions for use of a minor in a sexual performance, KRS 531.310, and promotion of a sexual performance…”
Identified automatically from the court opinions citing this section — not a ranking of which case controls.
Also relied on in: Kentucky Sexting Laws: Legal Consequences and Penalties
§ 531.125Sexual extortionIn force
(1) A person is guilty of sexual extortion when he or she communicates, through any means, a threat to: (a) Injure the property or reputation of another person or commit violence against another person with the intent to coerce that person to: 1. Engage in sexual conduct; or 2. Produce, provide, or distribute any matter depicting that person engaging in sexual conduct or in a state of nudity or seminudity; or (b) Distribute any matter depicting another person engaged in sexual conduct or in a state of nudity or seminudity with the intent to coerce that person to: 1. Engage in sexual conduct; 2. Produce, provide, or distribute any matter depicting that person engaging in sexual conduct or in a state of nudity or seminudity; 3. Provide the payment of money, property, services, or any other thing of value to the perpetrator; or 4. Do any act or refrain from doing any act against his or her will. (2) Sexual extortion is a Class A misdemeanor unless: (a) The victim, as a result of the commission of the offense: 1. Engages in sexual conduct; 2. Produces, provides, or distributes any matter depicting himself or herself engaging in sexual conduct or in a state of nudity or seminudity; 3.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-29 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at apps.legislature.ky.gov
§ 531.300Definitions for KRS 531.080 and 531.300 to 531.370In forcecited in 3 of our articles
As used in KRS 531.080 and 531.300 to 531.370: (1) "Obscene" means the predominate appeal of the matter taken as a whole is to a prurient interest in sexual conduct involving minors; (2) "Performance" means any play, motion picture, photograph, dance, or any other visual representation or computer-generated image exhibited before an audience; (3) "Promote" means to prepare, publish, print, procure, or manufacture, or to offer or agree to do the same; (4) "Sexual conduct by a minor" means: (a) Acts of masturbation, homosexuality, lesbianism, bestiality, sexual intercourse, or deviate sexual intercourse, actual or simulated; (b) Physical contact with, or willful or intentional exhibition of the genitals; (c) Flagellation or excretion for the purpose of sexual stimulation or gratification; or (d) The exposure, in an obscene manner, of the unclothed or apparently unclothed human male or female genitals, pubic area or buttocks, or the female breast, whether or not subsequently obscured by a mark placed thereon, or otherwise altered, in any resulting motion picture, photograph, computer-generated image, or other visual representation, exclusive of exposure portrayed in matter of…
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-29 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at apps.legislature.ky.gov
Cited in 29 court opinionsMost recently applied by a court: 2025
Leading cases:
- Payne v. Commonwealth (Kentucky Supreme Court 1981, 623 S.W.2d 867)“…310), as interpreted through its definitional counterpart (KRS 531.300), violates the First and Fourteenth Ame…”
- Purcell v. Commonwealth (Kentucky Supreme Court 2004, 149 S.W.3d 382)“…ionary review. Appellant asserts (1) that subsection (b) of KRS 531.300(4) (definition of "sexual conduct by a…”
- Clark v. Commonwealth (Kentucky Supreme Court 2008, 267 S.W.3d 668)“…In Woodard v. Commonwealth, we recognized that KRS 531.300(5) defined performance (within the cont…”
Identified automatically from the court opinions citing this section — not a ranking of which case controls.
Kentucky Revised Statutes, Chapter 117: REGULATION OF ELECTIONS
§ 117.322Action against use of synthetic media in electioneering communication -- Remedies -- Penalties -- Defense -- ExceptionsIn forcecited in 10 of our articles
(1) (a) Any candidate for any elected office whose appearance, action, or speech is altered through the use of synthetic media in an electioneering communication may seek injunctive or other equitable relief against the sponsor of the electioneering communication requiring that the communication includes a disclosure that is clear and conspicuous and included in, or alongside and associated with, the content in a manner that is likely to be noticed by the user. (b) The court may award a prevailing party reasonable attorney's fees and costs. This paragraph does not limit or preclude a plaintiff from securing or recovering any other available remedy. (2) In any action brought under subsection (1) of this section: (a) The plaintiff shall: 1. File in Circuit Court of the county in which he or she resides; and 2. Bear the burden of establishing the use of synthetic media by clear and convincing evidence; and (b) The following shall not be liable except as provided in subsection (3) of this section: 1. The medium disseminating the electioneering communication; and 2. An advertising sales representative of such medium.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-08-09 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at apps.legislature.ky.gov
Also relied on in: Deepfake & AI Voice Cloning Laws by State (2026), Kentucky Security Camera Laws: Home, Business, and HOA Rules
§ 117.001Definitions for chapterIn force
As used in this chapter: (1) "Audit log" means a detailed record of all actions and events that have occurred on the voting system, including: (a) Log-in attempts with username and time stamp; (b) Election definition and setup; (c) Ballot preparation and results processing; (d) Diagnostics of any type; and (e) Error and warning messages and operator response; (2) "Automatic tabulating equipment" means apparatus necessary to automatically examine and count votes as designated on ballots and data processing machines which can be used for counting ballots and tabulating results; (3) "Ballot" or "official ballot" means the official presentation of offices and candidates to be voted for, including write-in candidates, and all public questions submitted for determination, and shall include a voting machine ballot, a paper ballot, an absentee ballot, a federal provisional ballot, a federal provisional absentee ballot, or a supplemental paper ballot which has been authorized for the use of voters in any primary, regular election, or special election by the Secretary of State or the county clerk; (4) "Ballot box" means any box, bag, or other container that can be locked, sealed,…
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-29 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at apps.legislature.ky.gov
Kentucky Revised Statutes, Chapter 391: DESCENT AND DISTRIBUTION
§ 391.170Commercial rights to use of names and likenesses of public figuresIn forcecited in 2 of our articles
(1) The General Assembly recognizes that a person has property rights in his name and likeness which are entitled to protection from commercial exploitation. The General Assembly further recognizes that although the traditional right of privacy terminates upon death of the person asserting it, the right of publicity, which is a right of protection from appropriation of some element of an individual's personality for commercial exploitation, does not terminate upon death. (2) The name or likeness of a person who is a public figure shall not be used for commercial profit for a period of fifty (50) years from the date of his death without the written consent of the executor or administrator of his estate.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-29 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at apps.legislature.ky.gov
Cited in 6 court opinionsMost recently applied by a court: 2021
Leading cases:
- Montgomery v. Montgomery (Kentucky Supreme Court 2001, 60 S.W.3d 524)“…rold was not a "public figure" within *527 the meaning of KRS 391.170. Specifically, the trial court conclude…”
- William M. Sonny Landham v. Lewis Galoob Toys, Inc. Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation (Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit 2000, 227 F.3d 619)“…f an individual’s personality for commercial exploitation.” Ky. Rev.Stat. § 391.170(1). As case law on this right is exceed…”
- Roberts v. Girder (District Court, E.D. Kentucky 2017, 237 F. Supp. 3d 548)“…Ky. 2000). See also Restatement (Second) of Torts § 6521; KRS § 391.170. As plead, the complaint alleges no fac…”
Identified automatically from the court opinions citing this section — not a ranking of which case controls.
United States Code Title 18
§ 2256Definitions for chapterIn forcecited in 53 of our articles
For the purposes of this chapter, the term— “minor” means any person under the age of eighteen years; Except as provided in subparagraph (B), “sexually explicit conduct” means actual or simulated— sexual intercourse, including genital-genital, oral-genital, anal-genital, or oral-anal, whether between persons of the same or opposite sex; bestiality; masturbation; sadistic or masochistic abuse; or lascivious exhibition of the anus, genitals, or pubic area of any person; For purposes of subsection 8(B) 1 So in original. Probably should be “(8)(B)”.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-28 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at uscode.house.gov
Cited in 1,142 court opinionsMost recently applied by a court: 2026
In the courts (editorial summary, independently checked):Ashcroft v. Free Speech Coalition (2002) held the child pornography definitions in 2256(8)(B) and (8)(D), reaching virtual and pandered images, overbroad under the First Amendment. United States v. Williams (2008) construed sexually explicit conduct in 2256(2)(A), reading simulated to require explicit portrayal of the act.
Leading cases:
- United States v. Williams (Supreme Court of the United States 2008, 553 U.S. 285)✓Williams posted a chat-room link to photos of real children and was convicted of pandering. Upholding that ban, the Court read section 2256(2)(A)'s definition of sexually explicit conduct as tracking the one approved in Ferber, and said material must in fact meet it.
- Ashcroft v. Free Speech Coalition (Supreme Court of the United States 2002, 535 U.S. 234)✓An adult-entertainment trade group, a nudist-lifestyle publisher, a painter and a photographer challenged the CPPA. The Court held sections 2256(8)(B) and 2256(8)(D), reaching images that only appear to be of minors or are pandered that way, overbroad and unconstitutional.
- United States v. X-Citement Video, Inc. (Supreme Court of the United States 1994, 513 U.S. 64)✓A distributor sold tapes of an actress filmed before she turned 18. Besides reading 'knowingly' in section 2252 to reach the performer's age, the Court rejected as insubstantial the claim that section 2256 is vague and overbroad for setting majority at 18 and using 'lascivious.'
Identified automatically from the court opinions citing this section — not a ranking of which case controls.
Also relied on in: Alaska Deepfake Laws: AI Images, Voice Cloning & Penalties (2026), Arizona Deepfake Laws: AI Images, Voice Cloning & Penalties (2026), Arkansas Deepfake Laws: AI Images, Voice Cloning & Penalties (2026)
Kentucky Revised Statutes, Chapter 121: CAMPAIGN FINANCE REGULATION
§ 121.990PenaltiesIn force
(1) Any corporation or any officer, agent, attorney, or employee of a corporation, who knowingly violates any of the provisions of KRS 121.025, shall be fined not more than ten thousand dollars ($10,000), and, in the case of individuals, be guilty of a Class D felony. (2) Any corporation that knowingly violates any of the provisions of KRS 121.035(1) or KRS 121.310(2) shall be fined not more than ten thousand dollars ($10,000) for each offense, and upon conviction its charter shall be forfeited or its authority to do business revoked. (3) Any person who knowingly violates any of the provisions of KRS 121.035(2), 121.045, 121.055, 121.150 to 121.230, 121.310(1), or 121.320 shall, for each offense, be guilty of a Class D felony. Violations of KRS 121.150 to 121.230 shall include, but shall not be limited to, any of the following acts or omissions: (a) Failure to make required reports or to file reports at times specified; (b) Making any false statement or report; (c) Giving money under a fictitious name; or (d) Making any communication in violation of KRS 121.190(1).
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2026-07-29 · Read the full text in our law library · Verify at apps.legislature.ky.gov
Cited in 18 court opinionsMost recently applied by a court: 2024
Leading cases:
- Democratic Party of Kentucky v. Graham (Kentucky Supreme Court 1998, 976 S.W.2d 423)“…A "knowing" violation of that statute is a class D felony. KRS 121.990(1). Since a class D felony is an indict…”
- Martin v. Commonwealth (Kentucky Supreme Court 2003, 96 S.W.3d 38)“…the fund and abide by the maximum expenditure limit.... KRS 121.990(3): Any person who knowingly violate…”
- Kentucky Registry of Election Finance v. Jordan (Court of Appeals of Kentucky 1979, 583 S.W.2d 90)“…faith justify criminal proceedings against Plaintiff under KRS 121.990. The Lawrence Circuit Court concluded…”
Identified automatically from the court opinions citing this section — not a ranking of which case controls.
Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 47, Chapter 25, Part 11: Protection of Personal Rights (Ensuring Likeness, Voice, and Image Security Act of 2024)
§ 47-25-1101Short titleIn forcecited in 50 of our articles
This part shall be known and may be cited as the “Ensuring Likeness, Voice, and Image Security Act of 2024.” History Acts 1984, ch. 945, § 1; 2024, ch. 588, § 1.
Official text (excerpt) · last checked 2021-05-21 · Read the full text in our law library
Cited in 5 court opinionsMost recently applied by a court: 2011
In the courts (editorial summary, independently checked):Courts cite 47-25-1101 et seq. as the Personal Rights Protection Act of 1984. Gibbons v. Schwartz-Nobel (1996) applied a one-year limitations period because the Act supplies none, and STATE EX REL. ELVIS PRESLEY INTL. MEMORIAL FOUNDATION v. Crowell (1987) said nothing in the Act limits publicity rights vested before its effective date.
Leading cases:
- Gracey v. Maddin (Court of Appeals of Tennessee 1989, 769 S.W.2d 497)✓A widow sued her late husband's law firm under the Personal Rights Protection Act to stop its use of his surname; the Court of Appeals affirmed an injunction on partnership and name-assignment grounds, and the majority opinion never applied the Act's own provisions.
- STATE EX REL. ELVIS PRESLEY INTL. MEMORIAL FOUNDATION v. Crowell (Court of Appeals of Tennessee 1987, 733 S.W.2d 89)✓Two nonprofits fought over using Elvis Presley's name in their corporate names; the court rested his descendible right of publicity on Tennessee common law rather than the Personal Rights Protection Act, and said nothing in the Act limits rights vested before its effective date.
- State ex rel. Elvis Presley International Memorial Foundation v. Crowell (Court of Appeals of Tennessee 1987, 733 S.W.2d 89)“…General Assembly undertook to do so in 1984 when it enacted Tenn.Code Ann. § 47-25-1101 et seq. which is known as “The Person…”
Identified automatically from the court opinions citing this section — not a ranking of which case controls.
Also relied on in: Tennessee Laws on Recording in Public: What You Can and Cannot Film, Tennessee Video Recording Laws: What Is Legal and What Is Not, Tennessee Workplace Recording Laws: Employee and Employer Rights
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Sources and References
- KRS 531.120 -- Distribution of sexually explicit images without consent (2018)(apps.legislature.ky.gov).gov
- KRS 531.306 -- Proof of actual identity, age, or existence of minor not required for prosecution involving computer-generated image (2024)(apps.legislature.ky.gov).gov
- KRS 531.125 -- Sexual extortion (2025)(apps.legislature.ky.gov).gov
- KRS 117.322 -- Action against use of synthetic media in electioneering communication (2025)(apps.legislature.ky.gov).gov
- KRS 117.001 -- Definitions for chapter including synthetic media definition (2025)(apps.legislature.ky.gov).gov
- KRS 391.170 -- Commercial rights to use of names and likenesses of public figures (1984)(apps.legislature.ky.gov).gov
- TAKE IT DOWN Act, Public Law 119-12 (S.146, 119th Congress, signed May 19, 2025)(congress.gov).gov
- 18 U.S.C. 2256(8)(B) -- Federal definition of child pornography covering computer-generated images (PROTECT Act 2003)(law.cornell.edu)
- KRS 531.010 -- Definitions for chapter, including private erotic matter, computer-generated image, and obscene (effective July 15, 2024)(apps.legislature.ky.gov)
- Tennessee HB 2091 (113th General Assembly), the ELVIS Act, 2024 Tenn. Pub. Ch. 588, effective July 1, 2024(wapp.capitol.tn.gov)