California imposes sweeping youth-tech rules, banning addictive features and AI chatbot toys
California Governor Gavin Newsom signed 13 bills aimed at protecting youth online, including Adam's Law (AB 1709) that bars under-16s from exposure to psychologically exploitative features such as infinite-scroll feeds and autoplay, bans the manufacture and sale of toys with companion chatbots for four years, expands penalties for AI-generated or altered child sexual-abuse material, and requires parental controls on chatbot programs and other safety assessments.