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California governor Newsom signs law to protect kids from the risks of AI chatbots

  • On October 13, 2025, Governor Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill 243, the first U.S. state law requiring AI chatbot operators to implement safety protocols for children and vulnerable users.
  • Following revelations from leaked documents and high-profile deaths, SB 243 gained momentum after the death of 16-year-old Adam Raine and lawsuits against OpenAI and Character AI.
  • Under SB 243, platforms must disclose AI interactions, remind minors every three hours, block explicit content, ban health professional impersonation, file reports with the Office of Suicide Prevention, and face penalties up to $250,000 per action.
  • Affected companies including OpenAI and Meta must rapidly adapt to SB 243, which holds OpenAI, Meta, xAi, Character AI, and Replika legally accountable while prompting $2.5 million in lobbying and new safeguards.
  • SB 243 takes effect January 1, 2026, and requires annual reporting next year, complementing SB 53 as the Federal Trade Commission launched an inquiry last month into chatbot risks for children.
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California governor vetoes bill to restrict kids' access to AI chatbots

California Gov. Gavin Newsom has vetoed landmark legislation that would have restricted children’s access to AI chatbots. The move comes hours after the Democrat signed a law requiring platforms to remind users they are interacting with a chatbot and not…

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California is now the first US state to introduce a regulation of AI chatbots after several suicides. Governor Gavin Newsom signed the regulations on Monday and thus resisted the pressure from the White House, which refuses such regulation. The new laws oblige the operators of Chatbots, among other things, to check the age of the users and regularly indicate that the opponent is a machine. In addition, measures are planned to prevent suicide. Go…

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NBC Bay Area broke the news in San Francisco, United States on Monday, October 13, 2025.
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