California’s 5 new AI laws crack down on election deepfakes and actor clones

California enacts five new laws targeting AI, focusing on election deepfakes and unauthorized actor clones.

: California Governor Gavin Newsom signed five new AI laws, regulating deepfakes in elections and unauthorized actor clones. Bills AB 2655 and 2355 target AI deepfakes and political ads, while AB 2602 and AB 1836 protect actors' likenesses and voices. Governor Newsom is also reviewing 38 additional AI-related bills, with SB 1047 being particularly contentious. The governor discussed these matters at the Dreamforce conference with Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff.

Governor Gavin Newsom of California has enacted five new laws aimed at regulating artificial intelligence, specifically focusing on AI deepfakes and the creation of actor clones without consent. AB 2655 mandates that large online platforms like Facebook and X remove or label AI deepfakes relating to elections, and AB 2355 requires disclosures for AI-generated political advertisements.

Additionally, laws AB 2602 and AB 1836 set new standards for California's media industry by requiring studios to obtain explicit permission before creating AI-generated replicas of an actor's voice or likeness, including deceased performers. These measures were supported by SAG-AFTRA, the nation's largest film and broadcast actors' union.

Governor Newsom is currently evaluating 38 more AI-related bills, including the controversial SB 1047, which has generated significant public discourse. During a chat at the 2024 Dreamforce conference, Newsom indicated a cautious approach to balancing the hypothetical and demonstrable risks of AI, suggesting the possibility of addressing extreme concerns around AI in the future.

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