TLDR: Connecticut has passed new legislation criminalizing deepfake revenge porn and allocating significant funding for artificial intelligence education. While a proposed bill requiring public disclosure of AI use by businesses failed to pass, new privacy laws mandate consumer notification for data used in large language model training and grant individuals the right to opt out of automated decision-making systems for critical life aspects.
HARTFORD, CT – Connecticut has taken decisive steps in regulating artificial intelligence, with new laws focusing on the criminalization of deepfake revenge porn and substantial investments in AI education. These legislative actions come as part of a broader effort to adapt state laws to the rapidly evolving landscape of artificial intelligence.
Effective October 1, 2025, the dissemination of ‘synthetically created’ revenge porn will be a criminal offense in Connecticut. Although the law does not explicitly name AI-generated images, it is specifically designed to combat the growing problem of generative AI deepfakes, ensuring that individuals who share such images without consent face legal repercussions. This move aligns Connecticut with states like New Jersey, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts, which have also criminalized deepfake revenge porn.
In a significant commitment to fostering AI literacy and development, the state’s budget bill has authorized considerable funding for artificial intelligence education initiatives. This includes $500,000 for the Connecticut Online AI Academy, $25,000 dedicated to AI training programs at the Boys and Girls Club of Milford, and an additional $75,000 to support three AI training pilot programs across other Boys and Girls Clubs within the state.
However, a more expansive bill that would have mandated public disclosure of AI use by companies did not advance. Despite passing the Senate, the measure was not taken up by the House of Representatives after Governor Ned Lamont expressed concerns that it could potentially harm Connecticut’s burgeoning technology sector, threatening a veto. This decision highlights a cautious approach to business regulation in the AI space, contrasting with states like Colorado and Utah, which have enacted more stringent disclosure requirements.
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Complementing these measures, new privacy legislation, specifically Senate Bill 1295, introduces critical consumer protections related to AI. This law requires entities collecting sensitive data to notify consumers if their personal information is being utilized to train large language models. Furthermore, it empowers consumers with the right to opt out of automated systems that make significant decisions concerning their housing, insurance, healthcare, education, criminal justice, and employment. Consumers are also granted the right to question decisions made by these automated systems, enhancing transparency and accountability in AI’s application to personal data.
