Newsom’s Controversial Deepfake Ban Backfires: Free Speech Fight Ignites

Elon Musk is fueling the spread of a hilarious parody ad mocking Kamala Harris on X, just as California Governor Gavin Newsom signs a law targeting deepfakes and AI-generated content ahead of the election. Newsom’s move comes in response to a series of satirical videos using AI to mock Harris, highlighting the state's intent to crack down on political parody. Yet, while Newsom attempts to silence these comedic takes, politicians like him and Harris can lie to the public with impunity—facing no legal consequences for their endless spin.

The creator of one such video, Christopher Kohls, known as "Mr. Reagan" on X, is now suing the state of California. After his AI-generated parody of Kamala Harris went viral, featuring Harris as the "ultimate diversity hire," Newsom pushed through laws restricting digitally altered political content. Kohls is challenging these restrictions, arguing they violate his First and Fourteenth Amendment rights. Meanwhile, the hypocrisy is clear: while Newsom tries to ban parody, politicians can mislead the public all day long without breaking any law.