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Regulation

AB 686 - Elections: deceptive audio or visual media (2026)

Full name
An act to amend Section 35 of the Code of Civil Procedure, and to amend Section 20010 of the Elections Code, relating to elections.
Citation
Cal. Stats. 2026, ch. 334 (AB 686)
Jurisdiction
Cal.
In force
2027-01-01
Text
leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AB686
Stories
1
ElectionsArtificial intelligence
CAL.Regulation

California extends its election deepfake law to 2031

AB 686, approved September 19, 2026, as Chapter 334, Statutes of 2026, amends Elections Code section 20010 and Code of Civil Procedure section 35 to extend the repeal date of California's deceptive-media election law from January 1, 2027, to January 1, 2031. The law bars distributing, with actual malice, materially deceptive audio or visual media of a candidate within 60 days of an election, and lets candidates seek injunctive relief, damages and attorney's fees.

Enrolled text (California Legislative Information) →