Judge Blocks California Deepfake Law

A federal judge has temporarily blocked California's new law aimed at regulating AI-generated deepfakes, just two weeks after it was signed by Governor Gavin Newsom. The law, AB 2839, targeted those who knowingly distribute misleading political content, but was challenged in court by Chris Kohls, who argued that his AI-generated parody of Vice President Kamala Harris was protected by the First Amendment. Senior U.S. District Judge John Mendez criticized the law as a 'blunt tool' that could hinder free expression and humor, although he allowed for a minor provision requiring verbal disclosures in audio recordings. Elon Musk, who had shared the controversial deepfake, welcomed the ruling, asserting it upheld free speech. Newsom's office maintains that the law is necessary to combat misinformation, similar to regulations in other states. This ruling has significant implications for the regulation of digital content as the 2024 election approaches.