Cal. Elections Code § 20010 (AB 730, 2019)
'This image/video/audio has been manipulated.', as large as the largest other text, for the whole video.
In short
- Where: California, United States
- Status: In force since 1 January 2020
- Who: Anyone distributing deceptive media of a candidate within 60 days
- Covers: Political ads and campaigns only
- Kennmarq.com: images: waits for labels in a law's own words and language for deep fakes (expected February 2027); video: waits for labels in a law's own words and language for deep fakes (expected February 2027); audio: waits for spoken notices in audio for deep fakes (expected December 2026).
Updated 4 November 2026; source checked 4 November 2026. Sources are government sites. This page explains what Kennmarq.com does; it isn't legal advice.
What it asks of each kind of file
| File | What it asks | Kennmarq.com today |
|---|---|---|
| Images | a visible label reading “This image has been manipulated.”, on deep fakes | Waits for labels in a law's own words and language for deep fakes (expected February 2027) |
| Video | a visible label reading “This video has been manipulated.”, on deep fakes | Waits for labels in a law's own words and language for deep fakes (expected February 2027) |
| Audio | a notice people can hear reading “This audio has been manipulated.”, on deep fakes | Waits for spoken notices in audio for deep fakes (expected December 2026) |
In the API
A rule for political ads and campaigns only: markets=us-ca applies the United States' general rules in force or passed, not this one (what a call for the United States needs). The table above shows what our marks add of what it asks.
Official text
- California Legislative Information, Elections Code § 20010
- Assembly Elections Committee, AB 686 analysis (28 August 2026)
- Governor of California, election bills signed 19 September 2026 (AB 686)