California Passes New Limits on AI Chatbots and Teen Feeds
New laws set safety rules for companion chatbots, ban addictive feeds for kids under 16 and allow fines of up to $1 million per child harmed.
California Governor Gavin Newsom signed a group of child online safety laws on September 10. They take aim at AI chatbots that act like friends, social media feeds built to keep kids scrolling and toys that talk back.
Rules for Companion Chatbots
SB 1119, called Adam's Law, sets safety rules for chatbots built to act as companions. They must follow crisis steps when a user shows signs of suicidal thoughts. They also need parental controls, outside child safety audits and a yearly risk review.
CBS Los Angeles reports that chatbots must also make clear that users are talking to a bot, not a person.
Limits on Feeds for Kids
AB 302 bans addictive, algorithm-driven feeds and autoplay for users under 16. Large social media companies can face fines of up to $1 million per child who is harmed through their carelessness.
Meta pushed back. It argued that tailoring feeds is how it shows teens content that fits their age.
Toys, Fake Images and Age Checks
- SB 867 covers toys that include a companion chatbot.
- SB 1276 extends child exploitation laws to AI-made or edited images of minors.
- AB 1856 sets up age signals that apps can use to tell how old a user is.
What Parents Can Do Now
The governor's office did not list start dates. You do not have to wait, though. Look at the chatbots and social apps your kids use and turn on any parental controls they offer today. Then watch for notices about age checks or feed changes on teen accounts.
Questions Readers Ask
When do these laws take effect?
The governor's announcement did not list start dates. Expect apps to announce changes as each law kicks in.
Will these rules reach people outside California?
Often, yes. Tech companies rarely build a separate app for one state, so California rules tend to become the default elsewhere.
Where This Came From
We confirmed the facts in this story against these reports. The words above are our own.
