A federal judge has blocked a new California law aimed at cracking down on deceptive political deepfakes, saying the law violates the First Amendment. The law, which was set to take effect on January 1, 2024, would have made it illegal to distribute deceptive audio or video clips about political candidates that have been manipulated with artificial intelligence. However, U.S. District Court Judge Michael W. Fitzgerald ruled that the law is a content-based restriction on speech that fails to meet the strict scrutiny required for such restrictions. The judge said the law is too broad and vague, and could potentially criminalize speech protected by the First Amendment. The ruling is a victory for free speech advocates who argued that the law could be abused to censor legitimate political speech. However, supporters of the law argue that it is necessary to combat the spread of deepfakes, which can be used to mislead voters and undermine the integrity of elections.