California Gov. Gavin Newsom signs a package of new laws on Thursday aimed at reducing risks to children from social media and AI chatbot technologies. The measures include rules targeting product design features used to keep minors engaged, and additional requirements for “companion” chatbot services. Newsom signs the bills at an event with lawmakers and his wife, and frames the actions as child-safety protections tied to privacy, risk controls, and oversight.
Across outlets, the core social media change bars platforms from providing autoplay and algorithmic feeds that use a child’s history and profile for users under 16. Several reports also describe financial and compliance consequences if companies are negligent in causing harm to children. For AI chatbots, lawmakers add safety obligations such as crisis-related protocols for suicidal ideation, parental controls, notifications when a child disables safety settings, independent child-safety audits, and annual risk assessments before deployment.
Some coverage adds context from earlier legal fights and related measures. Reuters/coverage referenced in background notes that earlier social-media addiction rules faced court challenges. Other reports also mention additional state actions signed Wednesday to expand oversight structures for AI companies, including requirements for independent evaluations and a registry of AI auditors. Reporters note the laws are broadly positioned as “landmark” protections, while some outlets highlight that the approach is not universally supported.
