IOGAN Act

To direct the Director of the National Science Foundation to support research on the outputs that may be generated by generative adversarial networks, otherwise known as deepfakes, and other comparable techniques that may be developed in the future, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Identifying Outputs of Generative Adversarial Networks Act IOGAN Act 2. Findings Congress finds the following: (1) Research gaps currently exist on the underlying technology needed to develop tools to identify authentic videos, voice reproduction, or photos from manipulated or synthesized content, including those generated by generative adversarial networks. (2) The National Science Foundation’s focus to support research in artificial intelligence through computer and information science and engineering, cognitive science and psychology, economics and game theory, control theory, linguistics, mathematics, and philosophy, is building a better understanding of how new technologies are shaping the society and economy of the United States. (3) The National Science Foundation has identified the 10 Big Ideas for NSF Future Investment Harnessing the Data Revolution Future of Work at the Human-Technology Frontier (4) The outputs generated by generative adversarial networks should be included under the umbrella of research described in paragraph (3) given the grave national security and societal impact potential of such networks. (5) Generative adversarial networks are not likely to be utilized as the sole technique of artificial intelligence or machine learning capable of creating credible deepfakes. Other comparable techniques may be developed in the future to produce similar outputs. 3. NSF support of research on manipulated or synthesized content and information security The Director of the National Science Foundation, in consultation with other relevant Federal agencies, shall support merit-reviewed and competitively awarded research on manipulated or synthesized content and information authenticity, which may include— (1) fundamental research on digital forensic tools or other technologies for verifying the authenticity of information and detection of manipulated or synthesized content, including content generated by generative adversarial networks; (2) fundamental research on technical tools for identifying manipulated or synthesized content, such as watermarking systems for generated media; (3) social and behavioral research related to manipulated or synthesized content, including the ethics of the technology and human engagement with the content; (4) research on public understanding and awareness of manipulated and synthesized content, including research on best practices for educating the public to discern authenticity of digital content; and (5) research awards coordinated with other Federal agencies and programs, including the Networking and Information Technology Research and Development Program, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, and the Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Agency. 4. NIST support for research and standards on generative adversarial networks (a) In general The Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology shall support research for the development of measurements and standards necessary to accelerate the development of the technological tools to examine the function and outputs of generative adversarial networks or other technologies that synthesize or manipulate content. (b) Outreach The Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology shall conduct outreach— (1) to receive input from private, public, and academic stakeholders on fundamental measurements and standards research necessary to examine the function and outputs of generative adversarial networks; and (2) to consider the feasibility of an ongoing public and private sector engagement to develop voluntary standards for the function and outputs of generative adversarial networks or other technologies that synthesize or manipulate content. 5. Report on feasibility of public-private partnership to detect manipulated or synthesized content Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Director of the National Science Foundation and the Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology shall jointly submit to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives, the Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies of the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives, the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate, and the Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies of the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate a report containing— (1) the Directors’ findings with respect to the feasibility for research opportunities with the private sector, including digital media companies to detect the function and outputs of generative adversarial networks or other technologies that synthesize or manipulate content; and (2) any policy recommendations of the Directors that could facilitate and improve communication and coordination between the private sector, the National Science Foundation, and relevant Federal agencies through the implementation of innovative approaches to detect digital content produced by generative adversarial networks or other technologies that synthesize or manipulate content. 6. Generative adversarial network defined In this Act, the term generative adversarial network generator discriminator 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Identifying Outputs of Generative Adversarial Networks Act IOGAN Act 2. Findings Congress finds the following: (1) Gaps currently exist on the underlying research needed to develop tools that detect videos, audio files, or photos that have manipulated or synthesized content, including those generated by generative adversarial networks. Research on digital forensics is also needed to identify, preserve, recover, and analyze the provenance of digital artifacts. (2) The National Science Foundation’s focus to support research in artificial intelligence through computer and information science and engineering, cognitive science and psychology, economics and game theory, control theory, linguistics, mathematics, and philosophy, is building a better understanding of how new technologies are shaping the society and economy of the United States. (3) The National Science Foundation has identified the 10 Big Ideas for NSF Future Investment Harnessing the Data Revolution Future of Work at the Human-Technology Frontier (4) The outputs generated by generative adversarial networks should be included under the umbrella of research described in paragraph (3) given the grave national security and societal impact potential of such networks. (5) Generative adversarial networks are not likely to be utilized as the sole technique of artificial intelligence or machine learning capable of creating credible deepfakes. Other techniques may be developed in the future to produce similar outputs. 3. NSF support of research on manipulated or synthesized content and information security The Director of the National Science Foundation, in consultation with other relevant Federal agencies, shall support merit-reviewed and competitively awarded research on manipulated or synthesized content and information authenticity, which may include— (1) fundamental research on digital forensic tools or other technologies for verifying the authenticity of information and detection of manipulated or synthesized content, including content generated by generative adversarial networks; (2) fundamental research on technical tools for identifying manipulated or synthesized content, such as watermarking systems for generated media; (3) social and behavioral research related to manipulated or synthesized content, including human engagement with the content; (4) research on public understanding and awareness of manipulated and synthesized content, including research on best practices for educating the public to discern authenticity of digital content; and (5) research awards coordinated with other federal agencies and programs, including the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency and the Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Agency, with coordination enabled by the Networking and Information Technology Research and Development Program. 4. NIST support for research and standards on generative adversarial networks (a) In general The Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology shall support research for the development of measurements and standards necessary to accelerate the development of the technological tools to examine the function and outputs of generative adversarial networks or other technologies that synthesize or manipulate content. (b) Outreach The Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology shall conduct outreach— (1) to receive input from private, public, and academic stakeholders on fundamental measurements and standards research necessary to examine the function and outputs of generative adversarial networks; and (2) to consider the feasibility of an ongoing public and private sector engagement to develop voluntary standards for the function and outputs of generative adversarial networks or other technologies that synthesize or manipulate content. 5. Report on feasibility of public-private partnership to detect manipulated or synthesized content Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Director of the National Science Foundation and the Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology shall jointly submit to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology of the House of Representatives, the Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies of the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives, the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate, and the Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies of the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate a report containing— (1) the Directors’ findings with respect to the feasibility for research opportunities with the private sector, including digital media companies to detect the function and outputs of generative adversarial networks or other technologies that synthesize or manipulate content; and (2) any policy recommendations of the Directors that could facilitate and improve communication and coordination between the private sector, the National Science Foundation, and relevant Federal agencies through the implementation of innovative approaches to detect digital content produced by generative adversarial networks or other technologies that synthesize or manipulate content. 6. Generative adversarial network defined In this Act, the term generative adversarial network generator discriminator November 9, 2020 Reported with an amendment

Summary: Identifying Outputs of Generative Adversarial Networks Act or the IOGAN Act This bill directs the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to support research on generative adversarial networks. A generative adversarial network is a software system designed to be trained with authentic inputs (e.g., photographs) to generate similar, but artificial, outputs (e.g., deepfakes). Specifically, the NSF must support research on manipulated or synthesized content and information authenticity and the NIST must support research for the development of measurements and standards necessary to accelerate the development of the technological tools to examine the function and outputs of generative adversarial networks or other technologies that synthesize or manipulate content.