The bill
NO FAKES Act of 2026
S. 4591, 119th Congress β read as touching AI & Cloud Infrastructure.
Sponsored by
Sen. Coons, Christopher A. [D-DE]
ID: C001088
Follow the money
The bill
S. 4591, 119th Congress β read as touching AI & Cloud Infrastructure.
The sponsor
Every bill has someone who introduced it. That name is where the paper trail starts.
The money
22 itemised contributions to this sponsor, pulled from FEC filings.
Track this bill's progress through the legislative process
Latest Action
Committee on the Judiciary. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
June 17, 2026
π Current Status
Next: The full Senate will vote on whether to pass the bill.
1. Introduction: A member of Congress introduces a bill in either the House or Senate.
2. Committee Review: The bill is sent to relevant committees for study, hearings, and revisions.
3. Floor Action: If approved by committee, the bill goes to the full chamber for debate and voting.
4. Other Chamber: If passed, the bill moves to the other chamber (House or Senate) for the same process.
5. Conference: If both chambers pass different versions, a conference committee reconciles the differences.
6. Presidential Action: The President can sign the bill into law, veto it, or take no action.
7. Became Law: If signed (or if Congress overrides a veto), the bill becomes law!
Another masterpiece of legislative theater, courtesy of the intellectually bankrupt members of Congress. The "NO FAKES Act of 2026" - because, you know, the title isn't a blatant giveaway of the bill's true intentions.
**Main Purpose & Objectives:** The main purpose of this bill is to protect intellectual property rights in the voice and visual likeness of individuals. Or so they claim. In reality, it's just another attempt to line the pockets of wealthy celebrities and corporations under the guise of "protecting" their "rights". The objectives are clear: create a new revenue stream for the entertainment industry by granting them unprecedented control over digital content.
**Key Provisions & Changes to Existing Law:** The bill introduces a slew of new definitions, including "digital fingerprint", "digital replica", and "right holder". Because, you know, the existing laws weren't vague enough already. It also establishes a "Digital Replication Right" - a fancy term for "we want to sue anyone who uses our likeness without paying us". The changes to existing law are subtle yet significant: they effectively create a new form of copyright that's more restrictive and far-reaching than anything we've seen before.
**Affected Parties & Stakeholders:** The affected parties include online service providers, digital music platforms, and - of course - the poor, beleaguered celebrities who just can't seem to make ends meet without suing everyone in sight. The stakeholders are the usual suspects: the entertainment industry, their lobbyists, and the politicians who are more than happy to do their bidding.
**Potential Impact & Implications:** The potential impact is staggering. This bill could effectively strangle free speech online, as anyone who uses a digital likeness without permission could be sued into oblivion. It's a classic case of "copyright creep" - where the rights of corporations and individuals are prioritized over those of the general public. The implications are dire: a chilling effect on creativity, innovation, and criticism; a further erosion of online freedom; and a massive windfall for the entertainment industry.
In conclusion, the "NO FAKES Act of 2026" is a symptom of a deeper disease - one that afflicts our political system, where money and power are the only currencies that matter. It's a bill that's been crafted with the sole intention of enriching the already wealthy, while trampling on the rights of everyone else. So, to all the politicians and lobbyists involved in this farce, I say: congratulations - you've managed to create a piece of legislation that's as cynical as it is corrupt. Bravo.
Sen. Coons, Christopher A. [D-DE]
Congress 119 β’ 2024 Election Cycle
No PAC contributions found
No committee contributions found
This bill has 10 cosponsors. Below are their top campaign contributors.
ID: B001243
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ID: K000367
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ID: T000476
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ID: D000563
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ID: B001319
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ID: H001042
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ID: M001244
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ID: W000800
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ID: C001075
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ID: S001150
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Hub layout: Politicians in center, donors arranged by type in rings around them.
Showing 58 nodes and 37 connections (55 secondary connections hidden)
Total contributions: $113,100
Showing top 16 donors by contribution amount
Which industries are materially affected by specific provisions in this bill. 1 helped, 4 harmed.
Section (b) establishes a digital replication right that restricts the use of AI-generated digital replicas without authorization, which could limit the growth of AI and cloud computing companies that develop and deploy such technologies.
Section (d)(1)(B) imposes liability on providers of online services for failing to remove or disable access to unauthorized digital replicas, which could increase costs and regulatory burdens for big tech platforms.
Section (c)(2)(B) prohibits the distribution of products or services that produce unauthorized digital replicas, which could impact entertainment streaming services that use AI-generated content.
Section (g)(1) preempts state law causes of action for digital replica rights, which could create new business opportunities for lobbying and law firms specializing in intellectual property law.
Section (e)(4)(A) provides for punitive damages and attorney's fees in cases of willful violations, which could increase costs for private equity and hedge funds investing in companies that use digital replicas.
For each industry this bill affects, here's what the sponsor (Sen. Coons, Christopher A. [D-DE])received from donors associated with that industry during the 2022βpresent cycles. Donations are not proof of intent β they are a record of who funds the people writing the law.