New York synthetic performer ad law: dubbing and audio-only exceptions

Under New York S8420A, as the Senate site shows it, an ad that uses AI solely to translate the language of a human performer is excepted from the synthetic performer disclosure rule, and so are audio-only ads and expressive works, subject to the bill's conditions. A dubbed ad of a real presenter is therefore the case the bill carves out.

The rule it excepts from

The bill adds GBL 396-b. A person producing or creating a commercial ad must conspicuously disclose a synthetic performer where they have actual knowledge. A synthetic performer is a generated asset not recognizable as an identifiable natural performer. Penalties are $1,000 first and $5,000 subsequent. It was signed 11 December 2025, per the bill page.

Read the exception narrowly

The word is solely. If the translation step also changes the face or generates a new performer, the exception may not apply. This is a reading of the bill text, not legal advice.

What to log

Write down what the AI step did: voice only, language only, or face. Keep the job id. For the base rule, see New York synthetic performer ad law.