California has banned personalised recommendation feeds and autoplay for users under 16, in a package of 13 bills signed on Thursday that also imposes crisis protocols, independent audits and annual risk assessments on companion chatbots.
Governor Gavin Newsom signed the package on 10 September. The feed provisions prohibit serving minors content ranked on their own history and profile, which is a different instrument from anything else currently in force.
“Our children’s safety deserves to be at the center of every conversation about technology. As innovation moves faster, our protections must keep pace. Today’s legislation makes clear that California will not stand by while unregulated technology puts our children at risk. Innovation comes with responsibility, and protecting our children comes first,” said Governor Gavin Newsom.
Australia is consulting on making platforms prompt users to switch ranking off. Article 38 of the Digital Services Act requires a non-profiling option to exist. California has removed the option and made the answer mandatory for one age group.
That distinction is the whole story for anyone watching this from Europe. An opt-out depends on people finding it, which is why Adam Mosseri could tell an Australian briefing this week that engagement falls by half when users switch to a chronological feed: the people who switch are self-selecting.
