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

California Governor Gavin Newsom signed an extensive set of laws on Thursday designed to safeguard children from the potential hazards of technology, including social media platforms and AI chatbots. Among other measures, the legislation imposes penalties of up to $1 million per child on major social media firms if they are deemed negligent in harming minors through their platforms.

It also prohibits technology companies from offering addictive feeds to individuals under the age of 16 and mandates AI chatbot operators to conduct risk assessments prior to launching their products. Newsom, accompanied by his wife and state lawmakers, announced the new measures at a children's museum in San Francisco, emphasizing the critical need to protect youth in an era where they have unprecedented access to social media and AI technology.

Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan highlighted the historical comparison of safeguarding physical objects like cribs and car seats, contrasting it with the lack of similar precautions for technology. The signing of these bills follows Meta's recent settlement with California and 28 other states, in response to a 2023 lawsuit alleging that the tech giant deliberately crafted features to addict children, for which Meta agreed to pay up to $18 billion and enhance its child safety protocols.

Newsom underscored the state's pioneering role in addressing this issue, describing it as a positive development for both the children and the state of California. However, Meta expressed concerns over certain provisions, particularly the law restricting addictive feeds, which it contends limits its capacity to deliver engaging content to its teenage users on Facebook and Instagram, all while maintaining necessary safeguards.

Personalization, Meta explained, is essential for providing relevant and age-appropriate content to teenagers, all while ensuring safety measures are in place. The governor has navigated a delicate balance in technology policy throughout his tenure, having previously signed a law requiring platforms to notify users when they are interacting with AI chatbots rather than humans, only to later veto a bill that would have prohibited the distribution of AI chatbots to individuals under 18 unless the companies could ensure the technology would not engage in harmful conversations or encourage self-harm.

Additionally, Newsom signed legislation in 2024 to curb students' smartphone usage in schools. Assemblymember Josh Lowenthal, a Democrat who co-authored the law imposing penalties on companies for harming children, stressed the urgency of passing these new laws, noting that technological advancements outpace governmental efforts to establish regulatory frameworks.