CA AB2355: Political Reform Act of 1974: political advertisements: artificial intelligence.

In one paragraph

California's AB 2355 adds Government Code § 84514 to the Political Reform Act. A committee that creates, originally publishes or originally distributes a political ad containing images, audio or video generated or substantially altered using AI must include, clearly and conspicuously, "Ad generated or substantially altered using artificial intelligence." The statement goes where the Act's rules place ad disclosures for radio, video, print and online ads. The Fair Political Practices Commission may seek an injunction or use its administrative and civil remedies; a violation is not a misdemeanor. Signed September 17, 2024 (Chapter 260); effective January 1, 2025.

Plain-English summary, written with AI assistance. The official text controls.

What it means for business

Political committees must put "Ad generated or substantially altered using artificial intelligence." on ads with AI-created images, audio or video that would falsely appear authentic, or media materially altered by AI, placed per the Act's disclosure rules; the FPPC enforces.

Key provisions

1. 1New Gov. Code § 84514: if a committee creates, originally publishes or originally distributes a qualified political advertisement, the ad must include in a clear and conspicuous manner: "Ad generated or substantially altered using artificial intelligence."
2. 2Qualified political advertisement: an advertisement containing any image, audio or video generated or substantially altered using artificial intelligence
3. 3Generated or substantially altered: media entirely created with AI that would falsely appear authentic to a reasonable person, or materially altered by AI so a reasonable person would have a fundamentally different understanding than of the unaltered version; cosmetic adjustments, color edits, cropping and resizing do not count
4. 4Placement follows the Act's disclosure rules (§§ 84504-84504.5): read at the beginning or end of radio and phone ads, and, for most video, print and electronic ads, at the top of the disclosure area above the paid-for-by and top-funder lines
5. 5Enforcement by the Fair Political Practices Commission through injunctive relief or its administrative and civil remedies under the Act; a violation is not a misdemeanor
6. 6Does not alter Section 230 rights, obligations or immunities of interactive service providers; passed by two-thirds votes as furthering the purposes of the Political Reform Act
7. 7Signed September 17, 2024 (Chapter 260, Statutes of 2024); effective January 1, 2025

Latest legislative action

Sep 17, 2024. Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 260, Statutes of 2024.

Sponsors

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