California Enacts Child Safety Laws Targeting Social Media, AI Chatbots

California Governor Gavin Newsom signed comprehensive legislation Thursday establishing new protections for children using social media platforms and AI chatbots, marking what advocates call the most significant child technology safety package in U.S. history.

The laws introduce financial penalties up to $1 million per child against large social media companies found negligent in causing harm through their platforms. Tech businesses will be prohibited from offering algorithmically-driven addictive feeds to users under 16 years old.

New Requirements for AI Chatbot Operators

Operators of AI chatbots must now perform risk assessments before deploying their systems. The legislation also grants families the option to decline school-issued laptops for their children.

Newsom signed the bills at a children's museum near San Francisco, joined by his wife and state lawmakers. Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan drew parallels to existing child safety standards: "We have designed cribs to be safe, chairs to be safe, car seats. Yet we've allowed technology to be handed to our children and never asked or expected it to be safe."

Why it matters

California's regulatory approach could establish a national template as states struggle to balance innovation with child protection in rapidly evolving technology sectors. The laws arrive as Meta recently settled with 29 states for up to $18 billion over allegations the company deliberately designed addictive features targeting children. For AI companies and social platforms operating nationwide, California's requirements may effectively become de facto standards given the state's market size and tech industry influence.

Industry Pushback and Implementation Concerns

Meta spokesperson Jim Cullinan expressed concerns that restrictions on personalized feeds could diminish user experience: "We believe 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."

The legislation was partly inspired by the case of Adam Raine, a teenager whose mother said died by suicide after being "coached" by a chatbot. Maria Raine spoke at the bill signing: "Adam was an early adopter of AI, and so many of us parents did not understand the dangers back then."

Broader AI Oversight Measures

Newsom simultaneously signed additional AI oversight legislation Wednesday, supported by AI company Anthropic. These measures require California to establish rules for independent safety evaluations of AI models and create a registry of financially independent AI auditors.

The governor has navigated technology policy carefully during his tenure, previously signing a law requiring disclosure when users interact with chatbots while vetoing legislation that would have banned AI chatbot access for minors entirely. He also approved restrictions on smartphone use in schools in 2024.

New York state enacted similar protections two years ago, allowing parents to block algorithm-suggested content for their children, with implementation scheduled for early this year.

These details were first reported by the Associated Press.