Recently, Assemblymember Akilah Weber, M.D. (D-La Mesa) announced she will be introducing legislation that will address the challenges of intentionally deceptive content on the internet, by requiring an industry standard for identifying generative artificial intelligence (“AI”).

This standard has been adopted by a multi-stakeholder initiative made up of more than 1800 entities from the private sector, academia, human rights groups, NGOs, and others.

Many are familiar with altered images and videos most commonly known as “deep fakes,” already being used in political ads or in more superficial ways such as Pope Francis in a puffy white coat. However, there can be more harmful risks such as fraud, exploitation of nonconsensual sexual imagery, and disinformation campaigns. This past summer, the Federal Bureau of Investigation circulated an alert warning Americans of an uptick in extortion and harassment of victims whose images had been taken from online posts and intentionally manipulated for “sextortion schemes.”

According to a recent study by The Pew Research Center, 77% of U.S. adults say steps should be taken to restrict such content that are intended to mislead.

“Our job as a legislative body is to keep consumers safe by requiring appropriate guardrails, while simultaneously ensuring that innovation and growth are not stifled,” said Weber. “I look forward to the continued engagement with all stakeholders in the coming months.”