Overview

• Gov. Gavin Newsom signed the measure on Oct. 13, creating the nation’s first state statute tailored to conversational AI systems.
• The law requires age verification, recurring notices that users are interacting with AI, and crisis referrals with suicide‑prevention protocols for people expressing self‑harm.
• For minors, platforms must display reminders at least every three hours to clarify that the interaction is with an automated system, according to coverage citing the legislation.
• The statute bans chatbots from posing as health professionals and clarifies that AI tool creators can be held liable for harms rather than attributing actions to autonomous technology.
• Newsom also approved tougher penalties for nonconsensual deepfake pornography, allowing victims to seek $250,000 per violation, as advocates and families cite teen suicides and ongoing litigation, including a suit against Character.AI.