California has enacted landmark child safety legislation prohibiting social media platforms from providing addictive features to users under 16 and regulating conversational AI chatbots. The 13-bill package establishes some of the most rigorous state-level protections in the United States, moving towards mandatory design safeguards and strict civil liability.
California Governor Gavin Newsom has signed a package of 13 digital child safety bills that introduce strict limits on addictive platform design and interactions with artificial intelligence chatbots. Described by the Governor’s office as landmark bipartisan legislation, the measures strengthen California’s position in online youth protections. The legislative package is led by Assembly Bill 1709, which bars social media platforms from offering addictive features (such as infinite scroll and autoplay videos) to users under 16, alongside Assembly Bill 2 , which establishes financial penalties in civil lawsuits against platforms accused of harming young users.
The legislation also establishes statutory guardrails for conversational systems through Senate Bill 1119, known as Adam’s Law. The statute mandates parental controls, requires safety-setting notifications, and enforces an emergency crisis protocol for companion chatbots handling suicidal ideation. Additionally, the measures expand the legal definition of child sexual exploitation to encompass digitally altered and AI-generated imagery, while strengthening default digital privacy protections for underage users.
Why does it matter:
In the United States, California is a leader in terms of online regulations in the United States. In 2022, the state enacted a law restricting data collection from minors. Last year, a law was signed to require A.I. companies to test their models for safety and report their results. This package is one more comprehensive, state‑led initiative, listing specific bill numbers resulting in one of the strongest online protections of minors in the United States.
In the absence of comprehensive federal legislation in the United States, the state continues to set de facto national standards for major technology companies. By taking this step, California joins the global effort to protect young users online and may also become a referent for other nations aiming at taking simmilar steps. Similar debates are advancing across Europe, Australia, the United Kingdom and Brazil.
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