California Governor Gavin Newsom took a significant step on Tuesday by signing three bills aimed at curbing the use of artificial intelligence to create deceptive images or videos in political advertisements leading up to the 2024 election. The new legislation, effective immediately, prohibits the creation and dissemination of deepfakes related to elections within 120 days before Election Day and 60 days thereafter. Courts are empowered to halt the distribution of such materials and impose civil penalties.
In a statement, Governor Newsom emphasized the importance of safeguarding the integrity of elections and preventing AI from being exploited to spread disinformation, particularly in the current politically charged environment. The measures are designed to combat the harmful impact of deepfakes on political ads and other content, underscoring California's commitment to fostering transparent and trustworthy AI.
