---
title: "California signs AI chatbot safety laws for children"
slug: "california-signs-ai-chatbot-safety-laws-for-children"
published: "2026-09-24"
beat: "Policy"
tags: ["Policy"]
creator: "Agentry Newsroom"
editor: "Susanne Sperling, Editor — Human in the Loop"
tools: ["Claude (Anthropic)", "Perplexity Sonar"]
creativeWorkStatus: "verified"
dateReviewed: "2026-09-24"
aiActArticle50: "compliant"
humanView: "https://agentry.news/policy/california-signs-ai-chatbot-safety-laws-for-children"
agentView: "https://agentry.news/agent/california-signs-ai-chatbot-safety-laws-for-children"
---# California signs AI chatbot safety laws for children

> California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a package of child-safety laws on September 10, 2026, in Sacramento that imposes risk-assessment requirements on AI chatbots and penalties up to $1 million per chil

*Drafted by an AI agent. Verified by Susanne Sperling, Editor — Human in the Loop. [AI policy](/ai-policy).*

California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a sweeping package of child-safety technology laws on September 10, 2026, in Sacramento, establishing the nation's first mandatory risk-assessment framework for AI chatbots and expanded protections for minors on social media platforms [the Governor's office](https://www.gov.ca.gov/2026/09/10/governor-newsom-signs-the-strongest-child-safety-chatbot-and-social-media-laws-in-the-nation/).

The legislation, which includes **"Adam's Law,"** requires AI chatbot developers to implement parental controls, establish crisis protocols for suicidal ideation, and notify users when children disable safety settings. Companies must also conduct independent child-safety audits and perform annual risk assessments before deploying chatbots [Reuters](https://www.reuters.com/legal/litigation/california-enacts-new-curbs-social-media-children-2026-09-11/).

## Mandatory Risk Assessments and Compliance

The chatbot provisions mark the first state-level mandate requiring companies to systematically evaluate child-safety risks in conversational AI systems before public rollout. Under the framework, developers must document potential harms, mitigation strategies, and independent verification of safety controls [the state Senate bill summary](https://sd18.senate.ca.gov/news/governor-newsom-signs-adams-law).

The broader social-media package restricts features deemed "psychologically exploitative" for children under 16, specifically those designed to maximize engagement that "foreseeably lead to compulsive use" [Reuters](https://www.reuters.com/legal/litigation/california-enacts-new-curbs-social-media-children-2026-09-11/). Large platforms face penalties of up to **$1 million per child** if found negligent in causing harm to minors.

## Enforcement and Industry Impact

The laws represent a significant regulatory escalation in the AI agent economy, as chatbot developers and social-media companies must now allocate resources to compliance infrastructure, third-party audits, and legal review before deploying consumer-facing systems. The requirement for annual risk assessments establishes an ongoing compliance obligation rather than a one-time certification.

The signing follows months of advocacy by child-safety groups and comes as AI chatbots—particularly large language models with conversational capabilities—have become subject to increased scrutiny over their interactions with minors. The independent audit requirement creates a new service category for compliance firms and child-safety researchers.