The LDPR faction, led by Leonid Slutsky, has submitted a bill to the State Duma proposing that the use of generative technologies, including deepfakes, be recognized as an aggravating circumstance in the commission of any crime. The initiative appears logical against the backdrop of the rapid development of neural networks, but raises questions due to the party's own experiments with AI.
What the bill is about
The authors of the document explain their position in detail. Video and audio materials generated by artificial intelligence now look extremely realistic. Such content easily misleads people regarding a person's actual words, actions, or identity. Fraudsters actively use these capabilities to lend credibility to their deceptive schemes, which significantly complicates proving facts and correctly classifying offenses.
The developed norm is intended to work effectively in two key situations:
| Situation of norm application | Description of the mechanism |
| Imitation of a real person | Generated files reproduce the voice or actions of a real person that they did not perform |
| Creation of a fictional person | Technologies model the image of a non-existent character for conducting illegal activities |
Thanks to these changes, the judicial system will be able to more precisely differentiate the degree of responsibility for criminals. Criminal law will finally receive an adequate tool for working in the era of rapid technological development.
Political party and high technology
The LDPR's legislative step attracts increased attention due to its own prominent IT projects. At one of the economic forums in St. Petersburg, party representatives presented a unique digital algorithm. The special neural network was named "Zhirinovsky" in honor of the late founder of the party. The program is capable of formulating quite logical answers, imitating the manner of the famous politician.
The virtual double was trained on a vast array of archival letters, interviews, and public speeches. The developers emphasize the memorial nature of this project, created exclusively with the consent of the leadership. A completely different context is evident here, distinct from criminal schemes involving identity forgery. However, the very fact of the party members' close work with recreating a human likeness adds additional weight to the discussion.
Party activists also promote this kind of image among the youth audience. There are other initiatives as well. For example, one deputy proposed issuing a commemorative memecoin, following the example of a similar project by Donald Trump.
As an analyst, I note: the LDPR initiative is an important step towards the legal regulation of deepfake technologies, but its effectiveness will directly depend on the ability of legislators to clearly distinguish between the legitimate use of AI (as in the case of virtual Zhirinovsky) and malicious actions. The market and society expect from the regulator not only punitive measures but also clear "rules of the game" for developers and users.