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CA AB730: Elections: deceptive audio or visual media.

Enacted California · 2019–2020 session

Last verified Oct 12, 2026 · official bill text

AB730 · where it stands

4 of 5 steps complete
  1. Introduced Complete
  2. Passed first chamber Complete
  3. Passed both chambers Complete
  4. Enacted Complete
  5. Effective Date not recorded
What do these statuses mean?
Introduced
Filed in the legislature; may be waiting for a committee hearing.
Passed a chamber
Approved by one or both chambers; awaiting further action.
Enacted
Signed into law, or became law without a signature or over a veto.
Effective date
The date the law says it takes effect. Once it has passed, the page shows "Effective" and the date. A court order can still block a law; if we know of one, the summary says so.
Dead / vetoed
Vetoed, failed, or the session ended without action.

In one paragraph

AB 730 amended Elections Code 20010 and Code of Civil Procedure 35 to address election deepfakes. Until January 1, 2023 (later extended), no person or committee may distribute, with actual malice, materially deceptive audio or visual media of a candidate within 60 days of an election to injure the candidate's reputation or deceive voters. Such media is an image, audio or video intentionally manipulated so it would falsely appear authentic. Media disclosing that it has been manipulated is allowed, and the depicted candidate may seek an injunction and damages.

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

What it means for business

Campaigns, political committees, and content distributors must label manipulated candidate media near elections or risk injunctions and damages.

Key provisions

  1. Covers images, audio, and video of a candidate manipulated to falsely appear authentic
  2. Applies within 60 days of an election in which the candidate appears on the ballot
  3. Safe harbor for media that discloses it has been manipulated
  4. Candidate may seek injunction, damages, and attorney's fees
  5. Exemptions for news outlets, satire, and parody
  6. Originally scheduled to sunset January 1, 2023

Latest legislative action

Oct 3, 2019. Approved by the Governor October 3, 2019. Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 493, Statutes of 2019.

Topics and industries

Related topics

AI Deepfakes

Affected industries

MediaGovernment

This page is general information, not legal advice. Summaries are AI-assisted and may contain errors; read the statute for the controlling text and talk to a lawyer about your situation. Full disclaimer · Report an error

Related AI laws in California

All California bills →
AB686 Elections: deceptive audio or visual media. AB972 Elections: deceptive audio or visual media. AB 2839 Elections: deceptive media in advertisements. AB 502 Elections: deceptive media in advertisements. AB2655 Defending Democracy from Deepfake Deception Act of 2024. AB1766 Health curriculum framework: human trafficking and online safety.

Same topic in other states

Indiana HB1133 Use of digitally altered media in elections Idaho H0664 ELECTIONEERING COMMUNICATIONS – Freedom From AI-Rigged (FAIR) Elections Act: rel Texas SB751 Relating to the creation of a criminal offense for fabricating a deceptive video Rhode Island H5872 Relating to Elections -- Deceptive and Fraudulent Synthetic Media in Election Co New York S9678 Relates to requiring certain notice and disclosure regarding materially deceptiv Mississippi SB2577 Digitizations; create a criminal penalty for the wrongful dissemination of.