Name: Trump move could block California’s new AI laws set for 2026
Uploaded: 2025-12-13T20:19:46.767Z
Duration: 2 min 11 s
Description: California is preparing to roll out new AI laws on deepfakes, chatbots and whistleblower protections, but the Trump administration is pushing for a single national framework. Legal experts say the White House could challenge state rules, raising questions about who controls AI regulation.

California is preparing to roll out new AI laws on deepfakes, chatbots and whistleblower protections, but the Trump administration is pushing for a single national framework. Legal experts say the White House could challenge state rules, raising questions about who controls AI regulation.

California

California is preparing to implement a series of new artificial intelligence laws in 2026, including regulations on non-consensual deepfakes, chatbot safeguards, and whistleblower protections. However, a recent executive order from President Trump seeks to prevent states from enacting their own AI regulations, instead proposing a unified national framework.

The executive order, if upheld in court, could challenge or override California's efforts, though not all state regulations would necessarily be invalidated. The move has sparked debate over whether a single national standard or state-led experimentation is best for managing the rapidly growing AI industry.

Trump move could block California’s new AI laws set for 2026

From your phone to your computer and the search engines running on both, AI is everywhere now. So are rules and regulations for it. California has multiple new AI laws going into effect in the new year, but now the White House is stepping in and wants to have the final say. California has been both at the forefront of AI technology, AI companies, but also at the forefront of regulations. AI will have more hoops to jump through come 2026. Governor Gavin Newsom is extending laws on non-consensual deepfakes, specifically AI-developed pornography. New regulations also create safeguards for chatbots, preventing content that promotes self-harm. New laws also protect whistleblowers if they suspect developers' activities bring danger to the public. The industry and the legislature and the governor have worked through and created a regulatory framework for California that essentially applies to the whole industry because that's where it's headquartered. Now President Trump's signing an executive order that would ban states from pushing their own regulations. We want to have one central source of approval, and we have, I think, great Republican support. The White House wants to create a single national framework for AI, which raises the question from political science professor Thad Kouser. When you have technology that affects everyone all over the country, should there be a single framework, or should you let states experiment to see what works, see what doesn't work, let more innovation come through? Having to navigate different rules for different states could slow the U.S. and the global AI race. It comes at a time when AI is booming in the workforce, not to mention San Diego is an AI hub with a large tech industry. But the White House says if this executive order holds up in the courts, not every regulation will be shot down. California is going to put those laws into effect. The Trump administration may choose to challenge some of them. Back in July, Republicans tried to pass a similar attempt at state-by-state AI regulation. It didn't make it through Congress. Reporting in the newsroom, I'm Ava Kirshner, ABC 10 News.

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