Newsletters
New legislation strengthening safeguards for companion chatbots, banning addictive social media features for users under 16, and expanding privacy protections for children was signed into law in California on Thursday by Governor Gavin Newsom, joined by First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom and state legislators.
The centerpiece of the package is "Adam's Law," named after Adam Raine, a 16-year-old high school student from California who died by suicide in April 2025. Following his death, his family filed a lawsuit against OpenAI and its CEO, stating that interactions with ChatGPT had contributed to his psychological distress and validated suicidal ideation over months of use.
The law establishes the strongest companion chatbot regulations in the nation. It requires crisis protocols for cases of suicidal ideation, parental controls, and notifications when a child disables safety settings.
The law is also the first in the country to require companies to conduct independent child safety audits and annual risk assessments.
The legislation also bans social media companies from providing addictive features, such as autoplay and algorithmic feeds, to users under 16. Separately, it expands child sexual exploitation laws to include AI-generated material depicting minors, and strengthens privacy protections by shielding children from targeted advertising and regulating the use of K-12 student data in AI systems.
The signings build on years of legislative action in California aimed at limiting the risks emerging technology poses to children, including warning labels for young social media users, age verification requirements, and restrictions on addictive feeds for minors without parental consent.
California has also strengthened penalties for deepfake pornography, allowing victims, including minors, to seek civil relief of up to $250,000 per action against those who knowingly facilitate the distribution of nonconsensual sexually explicit material.
1 min read
The state has positioned itself as a national leader on broader AI safety. In 2025, Newsom signed SB 53, the Transparency in Frontier Artificial Intelligence Act, requiring AI developers to disclose safety frameworks and report critical safety incidents.
This week, he signed SB 813, establishing a framework for independent verification of AI systems, along with AB 1405, creating a state registry for AI auditors.
Newsom has called on the federal government to establish national regulations addressing the risks posed by AI, saying the technology's speed and scale demand a coordinated response beyond individual states.
Set as preferred source
Set as preferred source
1 min read
