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SACRAMENTO, Calif. \u2014<\/p>\nCalifornia governor signs laws aimed at protecting kids from risks of social media, AI chatbots<\/p>\n
SACRAMENTO, Calif. \u2014<\/p>\n
California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a sweeping package of laws Thursday aimed at protecting children from the risks of technology, including social media and AI chatbots.<\/p>\n
The laws will penalize large social media companies up to $1 million per child if they are found negligent of harming children through their platforms, ban tech businesses from offering addictive feeds to anyone under 16, require operators of AI chatbots to perform risk assessments before rolling them out and allow families to opt out of receiving school-issued laptops.<\/p>\n
Newsom joined his wife and state lawmakers at a children\u2019s museum near San Francisco to stress the importance of protecting kids at a time when they have such easy access to social media and AI chatbots.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have designed cribs to be safe, chairs to be safe, car seats,\u201d Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan said. \u201cYet we\u2019ve allowed technology to be handed to our children and never asked or expected it to be safe.\u201d<\/p>\n
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EDITOR\u2019S NOTE: This story includes discussion of suicide. If you or someone you know needs help, the national suicide and crisis lifeline in the U.S. is available by calling or texting 988.<\/p>\n
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Other states have also pushed in recent years for better guardrails to protect children from the potential harms of social media.<\/p>\n
Two years ago, New York state approved a law allowing parents to block their children from getting social media posts suggested by a platform\u2019s algorithm, a move to limit feeds that critics argue are addictive. The policy is scheduled to go into effect early next year.<\/p>\n
Newsom said the new California laws highlight the state\u2019s leadership on the issue.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a good day for our children,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s a good day for the state of California.\u201d<\/p>\n
Jim Steyer, the founder of Common Sense Media, whose brother, Tom Steyer, ran for governor<\/a>, said the laws were \u201cthe most important, comprehensive legislation\u201d on the subject in the history of the U.S.<\/p>\n But Meta raised concerns about some of the bills, saying the law to restrict addictive feeds hinders the company\u2019s ability to bring enjoyable content to users on its platforms.<\/p>\n \u201cWe 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 \u2014 safely,\u201d spokesperson Jim Cullinan said in a statement. \u201cPersonalization is also how we deliver age-appropriate content for teens that is relevant to them \u2014 all with the proper guardrails in place.\u201d<\/p>\n Newsom has walked a fine line on technology policy during his nearly eight years serving as governor in the nation\u2019s most populous state, whose status as a global tech hub he has repeatedly touted in speeches.<\/p>\n He signed a law last year requiring platforms to remind users they are interacting with a chatbot and not a human. Hours later, he vetoed a bill<\/a> that would have banned companies from making AI chatbots available to anyone under 18 years old unless the businesses could ensure the technology couldn\u2019t engage in sexual conversations or encourage self-harm.<\/p>\n