Committee advances AB 502 to tighten protections against AI‑generated campaign disinformation

Chair Pellerin said AB 502 rewrites parts of AB 2,839 to strengthen its constitutional footing while retaining protections against materially deceptive campaign communications, particularly AI‑generated deepfakes.

"The bill adds flexibility for election related satirical content, limits those individuals who can seek injunctive relief and damages due, to only those depicted in the fraudulent material and narrows the timeframe... from 120 days before an election to 30 days before an election," Chair Pellerin said. He noted Attorney General Rob Bonta supports the bill.

Leora Gershundson, identified as representing the California Initiative for Technology and Democracy (a project of California Common Cause), said generative AI now allows authentic‑looking deepfakes to be produced at negligible cost and urged support. "These deepfakes can upset elections across the globe and here in California," Gershundson said.

The committee advanced AB 502 with recommendation that Senate amendments be concurred in; the clerk recorded the disposition as out of committee 5-0.

Why it matters: supporters said the revisions preserve enforcement against materially deceptive election communications while tightening the statute to address constitutional concerns and to provide clearer limits for injunctive relief and damages.