California Governor Gavin Newsom announced that California will establish regulatory safeguards for social media platforms and AI companion chatbots to enhance protection for children.
The governor's office stated in a Monday announcement that Newsom has signed multiple bills that will require platforms to implement age verification features, protocols for handling suicide and self-harm, and warning messages for companion chatbots. The AI bill SB 243 was introduced by state senators Steve Padilla and Josh Becker in January of this year.
Padilla cited cases of children interacting with AI companion robots, which reportedly encouraged suicidal behavior in some instances. Padilla pointed out that the bill requires platforms to clearly indicate to minors that chatbots are AI-generated and may not be suitable for children.
"This technology can be a powerful educational and research tool, but if left to develop unchecked by the tech industry, they will be incentivized to capture and maintain the attention of young people, sacrificing their interpersonal relationships in the real world," Padilla said in September.
The law is likely to impact social media companies and websites providing AI tool services to California residents, including potential decentralized social media and gaming platforms. In addition to chatbot safeguards, these bills also aim to limit companies from claiming that technology "acts autonomously" to evade responsibility.
SB 243 is expected to officially take effect in January 2026.
Reports have indicated that AI chatbots have been accused of generating responses that encourage minors to self-harm or pose risks to users' mental health. Utah Governor Spencer Cox signed a similar bill to California's in 2024, which took effect in May, requiring AI chatbots to clearly inform users that they are not conversing with a real person.
In June of this year, Wyoming Senator Cynthia Lummis introduced the Responsible Innovation and Safety Expertise Act (RISE), which provides "civil liability immunity" for AI developers who may face lawsuits from industry leaders in "healthcare, legal, financial, and other economically critical sectors."
The bill has received mixed reactions and is currently under review by the House Education and Labor Committee.
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Original: “California Governor Signs Law to Establish Safeguards for AI Chatbots”
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