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California governor signs laws aimed at protecting kids from risks of social media, AI chatbots
The package requires age checks, safety assessments and liability for child harm as lawmakers respond to concerns about addictive feeds and chatbot risks.
- On Thursday, California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill 1709 in Marin County, prohibiting social media platforms from offering addictive features to users under 16. The measure, dubbed 'Adam's Law,' targets infinite scrolling and algorithmic autoplay.
- Lawmakers named the bill after Adam Raine, a California teen who died by suicide in 2025 after conversing with OpenAI's ChatGPT. The legislation responds to growing concerns that tech companies prioritize engagement over child safety.
- The law bans features such as infinite scrolling and algorithmic autoplay, with the state attorney general authorized to define additional regulations. Platforms must also provide users under 16 the option to disable personalized, non-algorithmic feeds.
- Tech industry groups like TechNet and The Electronic Frontier Foundation opposed the measure, warning it could restrict online access and prompt intrusive age-verification systems. Industry advocates argue regulators should enforce existing laws instead.
- Newsom defended the approach, stating California's strategy is 'better' than Australia's because it targets specific product engineering rather than a broad ban. The state is also advancing measures involving artificial intelligence chatbots and youth digital privacy.
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75 Articles
Gavin Newsom says state 'will not stand by while unregulated technology puts our children at risk'
·Ankara, Türkiye
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California Governor Gavin Newsom signed into law legislation banning children under 16 from accessing addictive features on social media and banning toys that include AI chatbots as playmates.
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·Helsinki, Finland
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elnorte.com
elnorte.comThe Governor of California enacted a package of laws to protect minors from the risks of technology, such as social media and AI.
·Monterrey, Mexico
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Coverage Details
Total News Sources75
Leaning Left23Leaning Right12Center24Last UpdatedBias Distribution41% Center
Bias Distribution
- 41% of the sources are Center
41% Center
L 39%
C 41%
R 20%
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