Newsom signs law regulating election deepfakes on social media

Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA) signed a bill into law that regulates election-related deepfakes on social media, as the state eyes regulations to rapidly evolving artificial intelligence.

The bill, AB 2839, approved on Tuesday forbids someone to be able “with malice, knowingly distribute an advertisement or other election communication containing materially deceptive content,” including deepfakes, of a candidate running for office, for the 120 days before Election Day and the 60 days after. The legislation allows courts to block the spread of content violating the law and allow civil penalties to be levied.