California: Social media and chatbots face stricter regulations to protect minors

California Governor Gavin Newsom signed a set of laws on Thursday, September 10, aimed at enhancing the protection of minors from social media and artificial intelligence chatbots. The legislation specifically targets features deemed addictive and imposes new safety obligations on operators of chatbots designed for or accessible to children.

One of the measures, Assembly Bill 1709, prohibits the relevant platforms from offering addictive features to users under the age of 16. This includes personalized content feeds, autoplay, and other mechanisms designed to prolong user engagement. Platforms will also be required to implement reasonable methods to verify users’ ages.

The legislation stipulates civil penalties of up to $50,000 per affected minor for willful violations, and $25,000 for negligence. It also establishes a digital safety advisory commission tasked with making recommendations on protecting young people online.

Another piece of legislation, Senate Bill 1119, known as “Adam’s Law,” imposes stricter regulations on so-called companion chatbots. Starting July 1, 2027, operators will be required to conduct and document a comprehensive risk assessment for minors before releasing a new chatbot or a substantially modified version.

Independent audits for chatbots

SB 1119 also mandates independent security audits for chatbots aimed at children. These audits will need to evaluate the policies and systems in place to mitigate risks such as foreseeable physical or financial harm, severe psychological damage, privacy violations, and certain forms of discrimination.

The legislation allows the California Attorney General to obtain audit reports under certain circumstances. A child who suffers harm due to a violation of the law, or their parent or guardian, may also file a civil action against the relevant operator.

According to the Associated Press, the package signed on Thursday includes additional measures aimed at reducing digital risks for children. Gavin Newsom has described these laws as a new step in California’s policy to regulate technologies used by minors.

SB 1119 sets July 1, 2027, as the deadline for the new obligations imposed on operators of companion chatbots, including risk assessments and independent security audits for minors.