Committee advances extension of law criminalizing deceptive deepfake campaign media

Assemblymember Berman described AB 686 as an update and extension of his 2019 law addressing manipulated audio and video used to deceive voters.

"The original bill back in 2019 makes it a crime to intentionally disseminate fake or manipulated audio or video of a political candidate to deceive voters or damage the candidate's reputation unless the media includes a disclosure that it has been manipulated," Berman said, adding that the bill provides continued legal protections against deceptive campaign media while courts consider constitutional challenges. He urged support and a vote.

The committee recorded the motion as advanced with the recommendation that Senate amendments be concurred in; the committee disposition was recorded as out 5 to 2. Chair Pellerin and the clerk noted the committee would keep the roll open for an absent member.

Why it matters: supporters framed the extension as protecting voters from deceptive digital content and preserving the ability of state law to penalize harmful deepfakes as technology evolves.