California lawmakers pass legislation to ban deepfakes, protect workers, regulate AI for a safer digital future

In a bid to combat the misuse of AI, California lawmakers are passing legislation to ban deepfakes, protect workers and regulate AI. The moves come as the Democratic-controlled California Legislature wraps up its final week of legislative session. Lawmakers are racing to pass hundreds of bills by a Saturday deadline in hopes of sending them to Gov. Gavin Newsom for approval.

Governor Newsom, a Democrat, has until September 30 to sign, veto, or allow the bills to become law without his signature. While he has voiced support for a bill targeting election-related deepfakes, Newsom has not yet made his position clear on other AI-related legislation. He has previously expressed concern that overregulation could stifle growth in California’s tech industry, particularly amid the state’s ongoing budget challenges.

Crack down on deepfakes

In an effort to protect digital integrity, California lawmakers are passing legislation to ban deepfakes, protect workers, and regulate AI to prevent the spread of misleading information. One of the biggest concerns addressed by the new legislation is the use of AI to create deepfakes. Lawmakers have expressed growing concern about the use of AI to produce misleading 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 in election-related content and require major social media platforms to remove such misleading content 120 days before Election Day and 60 days afterward. Campaigns would also have to disclose whether AI-generated materials are used in their ads. Additionally, new measures would make it illegal to use AI to create images or videos that depict child sexual abuse. Current laws don’t allow for prosecution unless the images feature real people, but the new proposals aim to plug that hole.

Another proposal would require tech companies and social media platforms to offer users AI detection tools, better enabling the public to identify manipulated content.

Establishing safety measures for AI development

Recognizing the need for stronger protections, California lawmakers are passing legislation to ban deepfakes, protect workers, and regulate AI to prevent exploitation and abuse. California is also poised to become the first state to implement broad safeguards for large AI models. New legislation will require developers to publicly disclose the data used to train their AI models. The initiative aims to increase transparency and prevent potential abuse of AI technology.

In addition, another measure requires government agencies to establish security protocols to mitigate risks and prevent algorithmic discrimination before entering into contracts involving AI models.

Protecting Employees from AI Exploitation

In a move inspired by last year’s Hollywood actors’ strike, California lawmakers have approved a proposal designed to protect workers, including voice actors and audiobook narrators, from being replaced by AI-generated versions of themselves. The legislation mirrors language used in 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 permission from their estate, reflecting growing concerns about the ethical use of AI in creative industries.

Improving AI literacy and education

To ensure fair labor practices, California lawmakers are passing legislation to ban deepfakes, protect workers, and regulate AI. As AI becomes more integrated into everyday life, California lawmakers are also focusing on improving AI literacy among the general public. One proposal calls for the creation of a state task force to explore incorporating AI skills into math, science, history, and social studies curricula. Another bill seeks to develop guidelines for the use of AI in the classroom, so that educational institutions can adapt responsibly to technological advances.

Also read: Oprah, Sam Altman and MKBHD Walk Into a TV Show About AI: What to Expect from This Must-See Special

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