The Babylon Bee sues New Mexico over AI disclaimer law

The Babylon Bee, a Christian satire news site, has filed a preemptive lawsuit against the state of New Mexico to challenge HB 182. The law, passed in 2024, amends the Campaign Reporting Act to require prominent disclaimers on political advertisements containing “materially deceptive media” created or manipulated by artificial intelligence.

Represented by the Alliance Defending Freedom, the publication argues that the mandate constitutes an illegal chilling of speech. The lawsuit contends that requiring AI disclaimers on parody and satire alters the content of the expression by alerting viewers to its satirical nature, thereby depriving the work of its rhetorical force and “spoiling the joke.”

New Mexico's law applies to various formats, including social media posts, memes, and flyers, and carries potential penalties such as fines of up to $20,000. The legal action targets the New Mexico Ethics Commission, which is responsible for enforcing the law. Babylon Bee CEO Seth Dillon stated that the organization refuses to censor itself and will continue to publish content regardless of the law.