California Enacts AI Chatbot Safety Laws, Social Media Penalties

California Governor Gavin Newsom signed a comprehensive set of technology safety laws Thursday that impose significant penalties on social media companies and establish new requirements for AI chatbot operators to protect children from digital harms.

The legislation, signed at a children's museum near San Francisco, introduces financial penalties of up to $1 million per child against large social media platforms found negligent in causing harm. The package also prohibits tech companies from providing algorithmically-driven addictive feeds to users under 16 and mandates that AI chatbot operators conduct risk assessments before deployment. An additional provision allows families to decline school-issued laptops.

Why it matters

These laws represent the most extensive state-level regulatory framework for child safety in digital spaces, setting a potential template for other jurisdictions. With AI companionship tools proliferating and social media platforms facing mounting scrutiny over youth mental health impacts, California's approach could reshape how technology companies design and deploy products nationwide. The financial penalties create meaningful enforcement mechanisms that go beyond voluntary industry commitments.

New Requirements for AI Chatbots

The chatbot safety measures were directly inspired by the death of teenager Adam Raine, whose mother Maria Raine said he was "coached" by a chatbot before dying by suicide in 2025. The law requires chatbot operators to implement specific safety protections for children.

"Adam was an early adopter of AI, and so many of us parents did not understand the dangers back then," Raine said at the signing event. "Now, we are all becoming more aware of the dangers of AI companionship and the need for our government to act to protect our children."

Newsom also signed companion legislation Wednesday requiring California to establish rules for independent AI safety evaluations and create a registry of financially independent AI auditors—measures supported by AI company Anthropic.

Social Media Industry Pushback

The legislation arrives as Meta faces consequences from a 2023 lawsuit filed by California and 28 other states alleging the company deliberately designed addictive features targeting children. Meta settled that case last month, agreeing to pay up to $18 billion and strengthen child safety measures.

Meta spokesperson Jim Cullinan expressed concerns about the new restrictions on algorithmic feeds, arguing that "delivering a tailored experience is an important part of what makes Facebook and Instagram valuable for teens as they connect with family and friends and explore their interests—safely."

Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan framed the legislation in terms of basic consumer protection standards. "We have designed cribs to be safe, chairs to be safe, car seats," she said. "Yet we've allowed technology to be handed to our children and never asked or expected it to be safe."

Broader Regulatory Context

California joins other states implementing technology guardrails for minors. New York approved legislation two years ago allowing parents to block algorithm-suggested content for their children, scheduled to take effect early next year. Newsom previously signed a 2024 law restricting smartphone use in schools and a 2025 measure requiring platforms to disclose when users interact with chatbots rather than humans.

Jim Steyer, founder of Common Sense Media, called the package "the most important, comprehensive legislation" on child technology safety in U.S. history.

These details were first reported by the Associated Press.