FIRE statement on California's 'deceptive media' law

Below is a statement from FIRE Director of Public Advocacy Aaron Terr on the passage of A.B. 2839, California's new "deceptive media" law:

In targeting “deceptive” political content, California’s new law threatens satire, parody, and other First Amendment-protected speech. 

A.B. 2839 bans sharing “deceptive” digitally modified content about candidates for office for any purpose. That means sharing such content even to criticize it or point out it’s fake could violate the law. 

The law also requires satire and parody to be labeled, like requiring a comedian to preface every joke with an announcement he’s making a joke. That’s not funny — it’s scary. 

Whatever concerns exist about AI-generated expression, violating the First Amendment isn’t the way to address them.