A federal judge has issued a preliminary injunction against California's AB 2839, a law designed to regulate AI-generated deepfakes related to elections, deeming it likely unconstitutional. Judge John Mendez ruled that the law, which allowed individuals to sue for damages over deepfakes within 120 days of an election, fails to meet the strict scrutiny required for First Amendment protections. The law was challenged by Christopher Kohls, who created a parody video of Vice President Kamala Harris that was shared by Elon Musk, arguing that it infringed on free speech rights. Mendez criticized the law for being overly broad and stifling satire, likening its impact to a blunt tool hindering democratic discourse. California Governor Gavin Newsom, who signed the law, maintains that it is necessary to protect electoral integrity, but critics argue it represents government overreach. The ruling comes as the 2024 presidential election approaches, raising concerns about the balance between regulating misinformation and protecting free speech.