Source: Courthouse News Service

Courthouse News Service reports that Governor Gavin Newsom has signed a comprehensive package of bills, including SB 243 and AB 853, designed to protect children and teens from the risks of emerging technologies. Effective January 1, 2026, SB 243 prohibits AI chatbots from engaging with users unless they have established systems to prevent content related to self-harm or suicidal ideation. Chatbots must also provide crisis service notifications and remind children every three hours that they are interacting with an artificial entity, addressing concerns about the addictive nature of AI "companions."

Furthermore, Assembly Bill 853, known as the California AI Transparency Act, requires large online platforms to establish methods for verifying the provenance of uploaded content, aiming to curb the spread of deepfake pornography and synthetic misinformation. Another significant legal shift involves eliminating the "AI defense theory," ensuring that companies cannot blame algorithmic errors to escape liability for legal violations. These measures collectively establish a robust framework for corporate accountability, placing the responsibility on developers to vet their products thoroughly before public deployment to ensure they do not exploit or endanger vulnerable populations.