To counter the misuse of AI, California lawmakers approve legislation to ban deepfakes, protect workers, and regulate AI. These measures come as the California Legislature, controlled by Democrats, wraps up its final week of the legislative session. Lawmakers are rushing to pass hundreds of bills before the Saturday deadline, with hopes of sending them to Governor Gavin Newsom for approval.
Governor Newsom, a Democrat, has until September 30 to sign, veto, or allow these proposals to become law without his signature. While he has indicated support for a proposal targeting election-related deepfakes, Newsom has not yet made his position clear on other AI-related legislation. He has previously expressed concerns about the potential for overregulation to stifle the growth of California’s tech industry, particularly in light of the state’s ongoing budget challenges.
Crackdown on Deepfakes
In a move to safeguard digital integrity, California lawmakers approve legislation to ban deepfakes, protect workers, and regulate AI to prevent the spread of misleading information. One of the major concerns addressed by the new legislation is the use of AI to create deepfakes. Lawmakers have expressed growing alarm over the use of AI to produce deceptive videos, particularly those that could mislead voters or generate explicit content involving minors. In response, several bills have been passed to crack down on these practices.
The proposed laws would ban deepfakes related to elections and require large social media platforms to remove such misleading content 120 days before Election Day and 60 days after. Campaigns would also need to disclose if any AI-generated materials are used in their advertisements. Additionally, new measures would make it illegal to use AI to create images or videos depicting child sexual abuse. Current laws do not allow prosecution unless the images involve real people, but the new proposals aim to close this loophole.
Another proposal would require tech companies and social media platforms to provide AI detection tools to users, enhancing the public’s ability to identify manipulated content.
Setting Safety Guardrails for AI Development
Recognizing the need for stronger protections, California lawmakers approve legislation to ban deepfakes, protect workers, and regulate AI to prevent exploitation and misuse. California is also poised to become the first state to implement broad safety measures for large AI models. New legislation mandates that developers disclose the data used to train their AI models. This initiative seeks to increase transparency and prevent potential misuse of AI technology.
Furthermore, another measure requires state agencies to establish safety protocols to mitigate risks and prevent algorithmic discrimination before entering any contracts involving AI models.
Protecting Workers from AI Exploitation
In a move inspired by last year’s Hollywood actors’ strike, California lawmakers approved a proposal designed to protect workers, including voice actors and audiobook narrators, from being replaced by AI-generated versions of themselves. The legislation reflects the language used in the contract negotiations between SAG-AFTRA and studios last December.
Additionally, state and local government agencies would be prohibited from using AI to replace human workers in call centers under one of the proposed laws. Another measure would create penalties for digitally cloning deceased individuals without the consent of their estates, reflecting growing concerns over the ethical use of AI in creative industries.
Enhancing AI Literacy and Education
To ensure fair labor practices, California lawmakers approve legislation to ban deepfakes, protect workers, and regulate AI, As AI becomes increasingly integrated into everyday life, California lawmakers are also focusing on improving AI literacy among the general public. One proposal calls for the establishment of a state working group to explore incorporating AI skills into math, science, history, and social science curricula. Another bill seeks to develop guidelines for the use of AI in classrooms, ensuring that educational institutions can adapt to technological advancements responsibly.
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