California Passes First AI Chatbot Law to Protect Children

Published 2 days ago

story

Image copyright:

The Spin

California's SB 243 casts too wide a net, imposing costly requirements on everyday AI tools like tutoring and customer service that weren't designed as human companions. The bill creates compliance confusion with repeated pop-ups, mandatory audits and private lawsuit risks for minor violations without meaningful safety benefits. Existing law already requires bots to identify themselves, making these additional layers unnecessary bureaucracy that stifles innovation.

CCIA

California's groundbreaking AI chatbot law creates essential safeguards by requiring platforms to identify suicidal ideation, provide crisis prevention resources and prevent minors from accessing explicit content. The legislation establishes clear accountability for AI harm while prohibiting chatbots from impersonating healthcare professionals. These protections build on California's leadership in defending children from dangerous technology with concrete safety measures.

Governor of California

Gavin Newsom on X