California Governor Newsom signs bills to protect children from AI deepfake nudes

California Governor Gavin Newsom signed two bills into law on Sunday to help protect minors from harmful sexual images of children created through the misuse of artificial intelligence tools.

Supporters of the bills say current law does not allow prosecutors to prosecute those who possess or distribute AI-generated child sexual abuse images if they cannot prove the materials depict a real person. Under the new laws, such a crime would qualify as a misdemeanor.

Last month, Newsom signed legislation regulating AI-generated “deepfake” election content and requiring the removal of “misleading content” from social media. The laws are now being challenged in court.

The new laws build on legislation passed years earlier that regulated campaign advertising and communications, the governor’s office said.

NEWSOM’S DEEPFAKE ELECTION LAWS ARE ALREADY CHALLENGED IN FEDERAL COURT

Newsom has touted California as an early adopter and regulator of AI technology. (Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images, file)

The law makes it illegal to create and publish deepfakes before Election Day and 60 days afterward. It also gives courts the ability to stop distribution of the material and impose civil penalties, according to the Associated Press.

Newsom also signed two other bills that aim to protect women and teenage girls from revenge porn, sexual exploitation and harassment powered by AI tools.

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Newsom has touted California as an early adopter and regulator of AI technology, saying the state could soon deploy generative AI tools to tackle traffic congestion and provide tax advice, even as his administration considers new rules against AI discrimination in hiring practices.

Jamie Joseph of Fox News and The Associated Press contributed to this report.