California governor signs laws aimed at protecting kids from risks of social media, AI chatbots

California Governor Gavin Newsom signed a comprehensive set of laws on Thursday to safeguard children from the potential risks associated with technology, such as social media platforms and AI chatbots. The laws impose significant penalties, up to $1 million per child, on large social media companies found negligent in harming children through their platforms.

They also prohibit tech companies from offering addictive feeds to users under the age of 16 and require AI chatbot operators to conduct risk assessments before releasing them. The governor emphasized the importance of keeping children safe amidst their easy access to technology, comparing it to the safety measures in cribs, chairs, and car seats.

The legislation comes in the wake of Meta's $18 billion settlement with California and 28 other states after being accused of deliberately designing features to addict children. However, Meta expressed concerns regarding one of the laws, stating that it would hinder their ability to deliver enjoyable content to users on their platforms.