Governor Newsom signs law adding safeguards for AI users
Adrik Vargas
EL CENTRO, Calif. (KYMA) – California Governor Gavin Newsom has signed Senate Bill (SB) 243 into law, introducing new safeguards for users of AI chatbots.
The legislation mandates that chatbots direct individuals expressing suicidal thoughts to crisis hotlines like 988 and implement age verification measures.
The law requires chatbots to remind minors every three hours that they are interacting with artificial intelligence and prohibits sharing explicit content with users under 18.
Sage Herrera, an AI user, believes these safeguards can assist individuals in crisis.
“Because there’s a lot of people that don’t know exactly how to reach out for help. So, I feel like that can give that person that little extra push in the right direction to seeking help,” Herrera said.
However, some users remain cautious about sharing personal information with AI.
Vicente Montenegro said, “I usually use it more kind of like technical stuff. I think, it’s better off like that.”
He expressed concerns about the potential misuse of personal data, saying, “I mean, they can manipulate a lot of information or I don’t know, I just it’s kind of dark just to put your mental health situation out there.”
SB 243 is set to take effect on January 1, 2026, marking a new chapter in AI user safety. For more information, visit the official announcement here.