Gov. Gavin Newsom’s push to ban AI-generated campaign videos has been stopped in its tracks by a federal judge who ruled that the law violated the First Amendment. The law was passed after Chris Kohls, a social media influencer known as “Mr. Reagan,” posted an AI-generated parody video of Vice President Kamala Harris. Kohls sued the state, arguing that the law infringed on free speech.
Senior U.S. District Judge John A. Mendez agreed with Kohls and issued an injunction on Wednesday to prevent the law from being enforced. Mendez criticized the law for being too broad, calling it “a blunt tool” that unnecessarily restricted political speech. The judge emphasized that parody and satire, even when AI-generated, are protected under the Constitution.
The ruling was also a victory for Babylon Bee, a satirical news outlet that filed a separate lawsuit against the law. Babylon Bee’s CEO, Seth Dillon, argued that the law would force content creators to label their work as parody, undermining the humor. Dillon welcomed the court’s decision, saying it protected the essence of satire.
Although Judge Mendez left a small part of the law in place—requiring AI disclosures in audio-only recordings—most of the law was blocked. The decision marks a setback for Newsom, who has been criticized for overreach in trying to regulate digital content.
The case is expected to influence similar debates over AI and free speech across the country, as lawmakers grapple with how to address new technologies without infringing on constitutional rights. For now, critics of the law are celebrating it as a win for free speech.
