California has enacted a sweeping package of legislation aimed at protecting children from online harms, regulating artificial intelligence, and restricting addictive social media features, according to the Governor’s office. The laws target overlapping concerns regarding youth mental health, algorithmic feeds, and online exploitation.
New Restrictions on Social Media Feeds and Chatbots
Under AB 1709, authored by Assemblymember Josh Lowenthal (D-Long Beach), covered platforms face strict age restrictions overseen by an e-Safety Advisory Commission, according to the Governor’s office. Additional measures target automated interactions. SB 1119, carried by Senator Steve Padilla (D-San Diego) alongside Assemblymembers Buffy Wicks (D-Oakland) and Rebecca Bauer-Kahan (D-Orinda), establishes safety standards for companion chatbots interacting with children.
The legislative package directly addresses algorithmic design. AB 302, authored by Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan, restricts online platforms from knowingly providing addictive feeds to minors without parental consent. Furthermore, AB 1856 by Assemblymember Buffy Wicks mandates age verification signals across software applications, while AB 2246 regulates children’s access to online services, products, and features.
Combatting Online Exploitation and Deepfakes
California officials have expanded civil penalties and reporting mechanisms to counter digital abuse. AB 1946, sponsored by Assemblymember Buffy Wicks, requires social media platforms to establish clear reporting mechanisms for child sexual abuse material. To address nonconsensual imagery, the state expanded existing child pornography statutes under SB 1276 by Senator Susan Rubio (D-Baldwin Park) to cover digitally altered or AI-generated material.
Victims of deepfake pornography, including minors, can now seek civil relief of up to $250,000 per action against third parties who knowingly facilitate or aid in the distribution of nonconsensual sexually explicit content, according to state records. AB 2 by Assemblymember Josh Lowenthal also introduces civil penalties for injuries sustained by children resulting from online platform practices.
AI Governance and Digital Wellness in Schools
The new laws build upon California’s broader artificial intelligence framework. Following executive actions in 2023 and a 2024 legislative package addressing deepfakes and watermarking, the state continues to implement guardrails for emerging technology. In educational settings, AB 2071 by Assemblymember Josh Hoover (R-Folsom) incorporates digital wellness into pupil instruction.
Additional education-focused bills include AB 1159 by Assemblymember Dawn Addis (D-Morro Bay), which protects student personal information, and SB 1128 by Senator Henry Stern (D-Los Angeles), which governs technology-based materials on school-issued electronic devices. Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin (D-Thousand Oaks) also secured passage of AB 2298 to update computer science content standards, while Senator Padilla advanced SB 867 concerning companion chatbots in toys.
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