California SB 243 — Companion Chatbots Act
First-in-the-nation law requiring companion chatbot operators to maintain suicide/self-harm prevention protocols, disclose AI nature to users, provide break reminders to minors every 3 hours, and prevent chatbots from producing sexually explicit content for minors. Creates private right of action with minimum $1,000 per violation.
Related Incidents
Same harm domain, actors and location may differ
14-year-old girl groomed via social media by Sydney private school teacher leading to child abuse material charges
12-year-old girl sexually groomed via TikTok leading to out-of-state assault in Binghamton, New York
9-year-old girl dies after attempting blackout challenge on YouTube
13-year-old Louisiana girl exposed to AI-generated nude deepfake images leading to expulsion and federal lawsuit against school district
12-year-old girl groomed and coerced into self-harm and producing child sexual abuse materials via social media in New Jersey
Related Legislation
Other policies covering the same harm domain