The California legislature wrapped up its final week in session on Saturday, approving several bills focused on banning deepfakes and regulating artificial intelligence (AI) in the state.
One key law passed is the “Defending Democracy from Deepfake Deception Act of 2024.” This bill mandates that “large online platforms”—defined as any public-facing internet website, web application, or digital application, including social media platforms—block the posting of “materially deceptive content” related to elections in California during specified periods around an election.
The period set by the bill is from 120 days before an election until 60 days after. It also requires political campaigns to disclose if their ads use AI-altered materials. The bill was approved by the Assembly on August 28 and the Senate on August 27.
Manipulating a voice in an “ad” like this one should be illegal.
I’ll be signing a bill in a matter of weeks to make sure it is. pic.twitter.com/NuqOETkwTI
— Gavin Newsom (@GavinNewsom) July 29, 2024
The legislation specifically targets content deemed “deceptive” if it portrays a candidate or election official as saying or doing something they did not, in a way that could harm their reputation or undermine