On Sunday, California Governor Gavin Newsom (D-Calif.) vetoed a bill that would have established regulations to crack down on the use of artificial intelligence (AI), which would have been the first law of its kind in the nation.

As reported by Fox News, S.B. 1047 would have allowed for the state government to restrict the creation and spread of certain AI-generated content in the name of combatting “misinformation,” particularly with regards to AI impersonations of prominent politicians. The bill was opposed by tech companies and startups, as well as several Democrats.

Newsom previously voiced his support for the bill, saying at a tech conference in September that California must have a leading role in regulating AI, especially due to the lack of restrictions from the federal government.

But ultimately, Newsom acknowledged that the bill “can have a chilling effect on the industry,” and that it could also hurt the tech industry.

“While well-intentioned, SB 1047 does not take into account whether an AI system is deployed in high-risk environments, involves critical decision-making or the use of sensitive data,” said Newsom in a statement. “Instead, the bill applies stringent standards to even the most basic functions — so long as a large system deploys it. I do not believe this is the best approach to protecting the public from real threats posed by the technology.”

Had the bill been passed, it would have required companies to test their AI models and publicly disclose the safety protocols that they used to prevent manipulation. The bill also would have granted whistleblower protection to workers in the industry.

The bill was authored by far-left State Senator Scott Wiener (D-Calif.), who denounced Newsom’s veto as “a setback for everyone who believes in oversight of massive corporations that are making critical decisions that affect the safety and the welfare of the public and the future of the planet.”

“The companies developing advanced AI systems acknowledge that the risks these models present to the public are real and rapidly increasing,” Wiener’s statement continued. “While the large AI labs have made admirable commitments to monitor and mitigate these risks, the truth is that voluntary commitments from industry are not enforceable and rarely work out well for the public.”

Greater attention was drawn to the bill following the posting of an AI video by YouTuber Chris Kohls, who goes by “Mr. Reagan” on YouTube. The viral video is a mock campaign ad for Kamala Harris, featuring an AI rendition of her voice as she repeatedly criticizes herself and Joe Biden for being far-left and ultimately inexperienced for the position. When it appeared as if Newsom might sign the bill, Kohls posted an AI video mocking Newsom as well.