California AB 2655 — Defending Democracy from Deepfake Deception Act (PERMANENTLY ENJOINED)
CA · Cal. AB 2655 (2024); Kohls v. Bonta, No. 2:24-cv-02527 (E.D. Cal.) — struck Aug. 29, 2025 (Babylon Bee LLC and X Corp. consolidated as co-plaintiffs)
California AB 2655 required large online platforms to block or label deceptive election deepfakes. Permanently enjoined on August 20, 2025 in Kohls v. Bonta (E.D. Cal.) on Section 230 preemption grounds — the first permanent injunction of a state platform deepfake law.
Technical detail
AB 2655 (2024) — required 'large online platforms' to remove or label materially deceptive AI content related to elections within specified windows; created a private right of action. Permanently enjoined Aug. 5, 2025 in Babylon Bee LLC v. Bonta (E.D. Cal.); held preempted by Section 230 and violative of the First Amendment.
Who is protected: California voters (would have)
Who must comply: Large online platforms (permanently enjoined)
Key facts
| Jurisdiction | CA |
|---|---|
| Level | State |
| Status | Blocked / in litigation |
| Protection strength | Limited protection |
| Effective date | 2024-09-17 |
| Enacted | 2024-09-17 |
| Citation | Cal. AB 2655 (2024); Kohls v. Bonta, No. 2:24-cv-02527 (E.D. Cal.) — struck Aug. 29, 2025 (Babylon Bee LLC and X Corp. consolidated as co-plaintiffs) |
| Enforced by | California Attorney General + private right of action (suspended) |
| Private right of action | Yes — individuals can sue |
| Penalties | Statutory damages (suspended) |
| Topics | deepfakes · election deepfakes |
| Last verified | 2026-06-28 |
| Official source | AB 2655 — California Legislative Information ↗ |
More AI rules in CA
- CA AB 2148 no-AI school employees (2026) · Enacted (not yet in effect)
- CA AG Bonta · In effect
- CA Bar GenAI Guidance · In effect
- CA CPPA ADMT Regs · In effect
- CA SB 1120 (AI prior auth) · In effect
- CA AB 2655 (deepfake takedown) · Blocked / in litigation
Related deepfakes rules elsewhere
- Arkansas Frank Broyles Act AI amendment — voice and likeness protection (2025) · In effect
- Doe v. X.AI (Grok NCII deepfakes class action) · In effect
- xAI v. Harwood (Grok NCII Counter-Suit 2026) · Blocked / in litigation
- Arizona HB 2133 deepfake sexual content — vetoed 2026 · Vetoed
- NY AG · In effect
- MI SOS Deepfake Election Policy · In effect
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