California Governor Gavin Newsom is currently reviewing 38 bills related to artificial intelligence (AI), including the controversial SB 1047, which has garnered a great deal of public attention. These legislative proposals address several crucial aspects of AI, from the existential risks that advanced systems can present, to the creation of deepfakes and the digital cloning of deceased actors.
In a statement, Newsom's office noted, "California, home to most of the top AI companies, is working to harness these innovative technologies as we study the associated risks." To date, Newsom has signed eight such bills into law, making California one of the states with the most advanced AI regulations.
Laws to combat deepfakes and protect privacy
Among the bills already signed by Newsom, those related to deepfakes, a growing problem in the digital age, stand out. The SB 926 criminalizes the use of false images created by AI with the intention of blackmailing people. This measure seeks to curb the proliferation of explicit AI-generated images that mimic real people.
In addition, SB 981 obliges social networking platforms to establish mechanisms for users to report deepfakes. If the images are confirmed to be false, they must be permanently deleted. On the other hand, SB 942 requires AI-generated content to include a watermark or a notice indicating that it is created by artificial intelligence, thus facilitating its identification.
In the electoral arena, Newsom also signed AB 2655 and AB 2839, which impose strict regulations on deepfakes used to influence elections. These laws force platforms to remove or tag content that could mislead voters.
Protection for actors in the digital age
The entertainment industry is also affected by AI, and two new laws, AB 2602 and AB 1836, seek to protect actors from the creation of digital replicas without their consent. These laws prohibit the creation of digital clones of living or deceased actors without the approval of their heirs.
Newsom still has 30 AI-related bills to decide before the end of September, which will mark a watershed moment in AI regulation in California.
