California’s 18 New AI Laws: What’s Now Illegal and Why It Matters
In a landmark move for AI regulation, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed 18 artificial intelligence bills into law in September 2024 while vetoing the controversial SB 1047. These new laws address critical AI concerns ranging from deepfake pornography to election interference and healthcare disclosures. Here’s what businesses, creators, and residents need to know about California’s sweeping AI legislation.
Key Areas Covered by California’s New AI Laws
1. AI Risk Assessment
- SB 896: Requires California’s Office of Emergency Services (CalOES) to analyze potential threats from generative AI
- Collaboration required with major AI companies (OpenAI, Anthropic) to assess risks to critical infrastructure
- Focuses on preventing mass casualty events through AI safety protocols
2. Training Data Transparency
- AB 2013 (effective 2026): Mandates disclosure of training data sources for generative AI systems
- Requires AI companies to publish:
- Dataset sources and collection periods
- Number of data points
- Copyrighted material disclosures
- Data usage descriptions
3. Privacy Protections
- AB 1008: Extends California’s existing privacy laws to AI systems
- Protects against unauthorized use of personal data (names, addresses, biometrics) by AI platforms
- Limits how businesses can profit from AI-collected personal information
4. AI in Education
- AB 2876: Requires AI literacy in state curriculum frameworks (math, science, history)
- SB 1288: Mandates school districts to form working groups on AI in education
- Both laws aim to prepare students for an AI-driven future while addressing ethical considerations
5. Healthcare Regulations
- AB 3030: Requires disclosure when AI is used in patient communications containing clinical information
- SB 1120: Ensures physician supervision of AI tools in healthcare services and insurance
6. Deepfake and Content Moderation
- AB 1831: Expands child pornography laws to include AI-generated content
- SB 926: Criminalizes blackmail using AI-generated nude images
- SB 981: Requires social media platforms to establish deepfake reporting systems
7. Content Authentication
- SB 942: Mandates AI content watermarking in metadata (e.g., DALL-E images)
- Aligns with existing industry practices for content provenance
8. Election Protection
- AB 2655: Requires platforms to label/remove election-related deepfakes
- AB 2839: Targets users who spread deceptive election deepfakes (effective immediately)
- AB 2355: Mandates disclosures for AI-generated political ads
9. Entertainment Industry Protections
- AB 2602: Requires actor consent for AI voice/likeness replicas
- AB 1836: Prohibits unauthorized digital replicas of deceased performers
Why SB 1047 Was Vetoed
Governor Newsom rejected the controversial AI safety bill, stating:
- Overly focused on large AI models while ignoring risks from smaller systems
- Created potential false sense of security about AI risks
- Called for more flexible regulatory approach to evolving technology
In his veto message, Newsom emphasized: “I can’t solve for everything. What can we solve for? That’s the approach we’re taking across the spectrum on this.”
What This Means for California
As home to Silicon Valley and major AI developers, California’s new laws:
- Set national precedents for AI regulation
- Balance innovation with consumer protections
- Address emerging concerns about deepfakes, privacy, and election integrity
These laws position California as a leader in responsible AI development while establishing clear boundaries for technology use across multiple sectors. Businesses and individuals should review the new requirements to ensure compliance as various provisions take effect through 2026.
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