Maryland's AI Task Force to Address Deepfakes and Data Centers, Opportunities for AI Engineers

Artificial intelligence is changing how people work, communicate, and access information. It is also creating new security risks. From AI-generated scams to convincing deepfake videos, governments and organizations are racing to keep pace with a technology that is advancing rapidly.

Maryland is one of the few states with a formal, statewide structure for overseeing AI. State officials have built a framework to guide how AI is used aa well as address emerging AI-enabled threats such as fraud, impersonation, election misinformation, and other related crimes. At the same time, the state is closely examining the impact of data centers that power modern AI systems.

Maryland’s Proactive Approach to AI Governance

A major step came with the Artificial Intelligence Governance Act of 2024 (SB 818). The law established Maryland's AI Subcabinet and requires state agencies to inventory and assess the AI systems they use. It also directs the Maryland Department of Information Technology to develop policies and procedures for deploying and overseeing AI responsibly. These efforts are designed to increase accountability while helping agencies adopt new technologies safely.

Maryland’s current government administration has expanded that work through the initiative, Protecting Marylanders in the Age of Artificial Intelligence. The focus is on protecting residents from emerging threats to public safety, critical infrastructure, democracy, public services, and the economy. State officials specifically identify AI-enabled cyberattacks, fraud, and impersonation as growing concerns that call for stronger safeguards. The state's AI framework, announced in September 2026, also includes a task force focused on synthetic media threats.

Deepfakes Create New AI Challenges for Security Professionals

One of the biggest concerns surrounding AI is the rise of deepfakes. These realistic AI-generated multimedia can be used to impersonate individuals, spread false information, and commit fraud.

Maryland has enacted several laws to address these risks. The state expanded protections against AI-generated nonconsensual intimate imagery and, in 2026, enacted legislation targeting deceptive deepfakes in elections. It has also extended its identity-fraud law to cover AI impersonation.

The dangers are not theoretical. In 2024, a fabricated audio recording was created to impersonate a Pikesville High School principal. The case caused confusion, damaged reputations, and triggered a police investigation that ended in the later sentencing of the school's former athletic director. The case highlighted the challenges AI-generated content poses for identifying misinformation, verifying digital evidence, and investigating impersonation. It also illustrates the importance of equipping organizations and law enforcement with the tools and expertise to recognize manipulated media and respond to AI-enabled crimes. As generative AI grows more powerful, cybersecurity professionals will need to adapt their methods for these increasingly sophisticated attacks.

Maryland’s expanding approach to AI governance could also create job opportunities for professionals like AI specialists, data analysts, cybersecurity or systems engineers, and technology policy experts within state government, as well as for contractors and consultants supporting government systems who can ensure the technology is used responsibly and effectively across public services.

Maryland's Response to Data Centers

The state's AI strategy includes considerations for ethical AI usage and community impact. AI depends on large-scale computing infrastructure, much of which is housed in data centers. However, as AI adoption grows, so does massive demand for resources like electricity, water, land, and network capacity.

In response, MD Governor Wes Moore issued an executive order in September 2026 adding review requirements for major data center developments. The order calls for greater transparency, environmental oversight, community support, and protections for ratepayers. It also creates a state task force, staffed by seven agencies, to review proposed projects that would use significant draws of electricity at 25 megawatts or more.

Maryland’s forward-thinking approach to AI governance reflects the need to consider not only the technology itself, but the infrastructure that supports it and the broader impact on communities and the environment.

Artificial Intelligence at Capitol Tech

As Maryland’s pioneering efforts in AI governance expand, demand continues to grow for professionals who understand AI at a technical and professional level. Organizations need experts who can develop AI systems responsibly and secure the infrastructure behind emerging technologies.

Capitol Technology University, located in Laurel, MD, offers a Bachelor of Science in Artificial Intelligence that helps students build the knowledge and expertise to excel in this field. The program provides a foundation in machine learning, data science, and AI system development with an emphasis on real-world and ethical applications.

Explore what a degree from Capitol Tech can do for you! To learn more, contact our Admissions team or request more information.

Written by Jordan Ford
Edited by Erica Decker