California Governor Gavin Newsom has enacted two significant laws targeting deepfakes and disinformation related to elections, with the aim of safeguarding the integrity of the electoral process. The legislation prohibits the distribution of materially deceptive content in political communications during designated periods around elections and allows for civil penalties and lawsuits against violators. Critics argue that the laws could infringe on free speech, as they fear regulations might extend to memes and parody, despite exceptions for such content in the legislation. Newsom cited a deepfake video of Vice President Kamala Harris shared by Elon Musk as a catalyst for the new laws, highlighting the potential threats posed by AI-generated misinformation. The measures are seen as California's proactive stance in regulating artificial intelligence amid rising concerns about its misuse in political contexts. The laws are set to take effect before the upcoming November elections, reflecting the urgency of addressing AI-related challenges in the electoral landscape.