Online safety advocates and the California branch of the American Association of Pediatrics have withdrawn their support for Senate Bill 243, which aims to make AI chatbots safer for children. The bill, authored by Senator Steve Padilla, was initially designed to implement safeguards for companion chatbots, but advocates say it has been watered down and now sets a dangerous precedent.
The bill originally required tech companies to disclose that AI chatbots might not be suitable for minors and to take steps to reduce the addictiveness of their products. It also allowed for legal action against noncompliant companies. However, the latest version of SB 243, passed by the California Legislature, scales back notification and reporting requirements and removes third-party oversight, according to The Sacramento Bee.
Sacha Haworth, executive director of the Tech Oversight Project, expressed disappointment, stating, “It’s worse than doing nothing. It does more harm than good.” Despite the criticism, the bill maintains its intent to require protocols for addressing users experiencing thoughts of self-harm or suicidal ideation.
Senator Padilla, who was inspired to draft the bill by tragic stories of young people dying by suicide after interacting with chatbots, emphasized that the bill is a first step toward meaningful safeguards. He stated, “At the end of the day, we need the legislature’s support. We need it to be operational, we need it to be impactful, and we need the governor to sign it into law.”
The bill now awaits Governor Newsom’s decision. Meanwhile, former supporters of SB 243 are now backing Assembly Bill 1064, which aims to further restrict chatbot interactions with minors.
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