California Falls Short

From Pluribus News:

TECHNOLOGY: California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) has signed legislation requiring app store operators to ascertain a user’s age when they first set up accounts on personal devices like iPhones and Androids. The first-of-its-kind measure is meant to allow easier age-gating for app developers, to provide minors with an age-appropriate experience. (Pluribus News)

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE: Newsom vetoed legislation that would have banned minors from accessing companion chatbots unless a company could show their product was unlikely to encourage self-harm, violence, drug and alcohol consumption or disordered eating. Newsom signed a narrower bill requiring companion chatbots to regularly remind minors they are interacting with a robot, rather than a real person. (Pluribus News)

The tech industry waged a fierce battle to win Newsom’s veto. Expect another fight next year.

A different perspective from the DeepView:

On Monday, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed a new wave of laws regulating the way that tech platforms interact with young people. 

Newsom signed into law SB 243, a bill regulating AI companions as a means of protecting young users, making it the first state to do so. The law, which goes into effect on January 1, 2025, requires chatbot developers to incorporate features such as age verification and warnings and establish protocols to address discussions of self-harm. 

Additionally, Newsom signed AB 1043, requiring device makers and app stores to verify users’ ages online, a law that was backed by the likes of Google, Meta and OpenAI, and AB 56, which requires health warning labels for social media platforms for “profound” mental health risks.

“Emerging technology like chatbots and social media can inspire, educate, and connect – but without real guardrails, technology can also exploit, mislead, and endanger our kids," Newsom said in a statement on Monday. 

So which is more accurate - the pro-public Pluribus' News noting that Newsom signed the looser bill or the tech-friendly DeepView which focused on SB 243 ground-breaking nature?

Created by Sora.

I'm inclined to believe that a stricter law is a better step forward - let's clearly make sure companion apps are labelled as adult products and take steps to ensure so. I've been hoping for some time that this step is necessary; but Newsom needs big-tech's money and support as he aims for 2028.