SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Diya TV) — California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a package of laws Thursday regulating social media platforms, artificial intelligence chatbots and other technology used by minors.
One measure, AB 1709, prohibits covered platforms from providing certain features, including algorithmic feeds and autoplay, to users under 16. Platforms must take reasonable steps to verify users’ ages and may continue allowing younger users to maintain accounts if those features are disabled.
Violations can result in civil penalties of up to $50,000 per affected minor for knowing violations and $25,000 for negligent violations.
The Electronic Frontier Foundation opposed the measure, arguing that its definition of addictive features is too broad and could restrict minors’ access to social media. Meta has also raised concerns about restrictions on personalized content for teenage users.
Newsom also signed SB 1119, known as Adam’s Law, which establishes additional requirements for companies operating companion chatbots used by minors. The law is named after Adam Raine, a 16-year-old California teenager who died by suicide in 2025 after using ChatGPT. His parents later sued OpenAI over the chatbot’s interactions with their son.
Under the law, chatbot operators must conduct annual child-safety risk assessments, establish safety policies and implement safeguards addressing self-harm and other specified risks. Operators must also provide parental controls, including options to set usage limits.
If a child’s account is connected to a parent’s account, operators must notify the parent within 12 hours when the account indicates a substantial risk of certain covered harms. The law also requires disclosures informing minors when they are interacting with an AI system.
The legislation includes additional measures addressing AI-generated child sexual abuse material, chatbot-enabled toys and digital safety education.
The package follows an agreement reached in August between Meta and dozens of U.S. states and territories resolving litigation over alleged harms to young users of Facebook and Instagram. Meta agreed to pay up to $18 billion and implement changes including age-assurance measures, usage limits and restrictions on notifications for minors. Meta denied wrongdoing as part of the settlement.
Newsom separately signed two AI oversight bills Wednesday. SB 813 establishes standards for independent organizations that evaluate AI systems, while AB 1405 creates a state registry for AI auditors and sets independence and transparency requirements.
