On Thursday, Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-Calif.) signed legislation to protect children online and while using artificial intelligence (AI).
The new laws are aimed at protecting children under 16 and forbid social media companies from providing addictive features to kids in this age group. The legislation also tightens safeguards for companion AI chatbots, including crisis guidelines for suicidal tendencies and parental controls, among other things.
The legislation also expands the ambit of child sexual exploitation to include any AI-generated or digitally changed content that shows children under 18 engaged in any explicit act. It also prohibits social media platforms from offering children under 16 addictive features such as autoplay, infinite scroll and certain algorithmically recommended content feeds.
“Today’s legislation makes clear that California will not stand by while unregulated technology puts our children at risk,” said Newsom.
The measures also include a four-year ban on the sale of AI chatbot-powered toys for children, per a Reuters report.
