Musk Criticizes Newsom Over Anti-Deepfake Law
Elon Musk launched a strong attack against California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Tuesday. Musk criticized the Democratic governor for signing what he claims is the country’s toughest legislation on AI-generated deepfake content. This new law aims to tackle misleading political images and videos, but Musk argues that it makes parody illegal, which could stifle creativity and free speech.
Musk’s comments reflect concerns about the law’s impact on deepfake parody and AI generated content. He believes that the legislation could overly restrict how deepfake technology is used, potentially affecting not only political discourse but also creative expressions.
Key Facts About Newsom’s Anti-Deepfake Legislation
During the Dreamforce convention on Tuesday, Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff took the stage to discuss various AI advancements. This event coincided with California Gov. Gavin Newsom signing bills that target deepfakes in political ads. Among the new laws is Assembly Bill 2839, which goes into effect immediately and makes it illegal to distribute materially deceptive audio or visual media related to political candidates. The law also mandates that any deepfake ads must be taken down within 120 days of an election or within 60 days if challenged in court.
Another important measure is Assembly Bill 2655, set to take effect next year, which focuses on online platforms like X and Facebook. It aims to increase public disclosure of AI-generated or altered visuals in political ads. Assembly Bill 2355 addresses the need for campaigns to clearly label deepfakes as such, with parody and satire being exempted from these regulations.
Musk’s Response to Newsom’s Deepfake Legislation
In July, Gavin Newsom vowed to sign new legislation to crack down on political deepfakes. Reacting to this, Elon Musk shared an altered campaign video featuring Vice President Kamala Harris. The billionaire mocked Newsom for his parody-related bills, claiming they would make parody illegal in America.
On Tuesday, Musk lashed out at the California governor in a series of posts on X. He expressed disbelief that Newsom would push for laws that risk free speech and accused him of overstepping with these new regulations. Musk urged his followers to pay attention to these developments, framing them as a threat to free speech and Democratic values.
Crucial Quote
Gavin Newsom emphasized the importance of the new bills during his speech at Dreamforce, stating that they are long overdue for election integrity. He told the audience that addressing deepfakes is urgent, especially with early voting and the election’s dynamics. Newsom argued that it is wrong to allow deepfakes to undermine the democratic process at every level, and expressed that the new laws are a necessary step, despite criticisms from figures like Harris and Trump.
