Companion chatbots (SB 243)
SB 243
Artificial intelligence · Children
Requires companion chatbot operators to tell users when they might think they are talking to a human that the bot is AI, to keep and publish suicide and self-harm prevention protocols, and to report crisis referrals annually starting July 1, 2027. For users known to be minors it required AI disclosures, three-hour break reminders, and sexual-content safeguards; SB 1119 (2026) moves minors' protections into a new chapter operative July 1, 2027. SB 867 (2026) separately bans toys with companion chatbots until 2031.
- Where
- California
- Citation
- Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code 22601-22605 (Chapter 22.6)
- Status
- In force
- In force since
- 2026-01-01
- Enforced by
- Private plaintiffs; Office of Suicide Prevention receives reports
- People can sue
- Yes
- Penalties
- Persons injured in fact may sue for injunctive relief, the greater of actual damages or $1,000 per violation, and attorney's fees (22605).
- Applies to
- Operators of companion chatbot platforms available in California (excludes customer-service bots, limited video-game bots, and simple voice assistants) (22601)
What a privacy notice must say
- Clearly disclose that the chatbot is AI and not human when a reasonable person could be misled.Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code 22602(a)
- Disclose that companion chatbots may not be suitable for some minors.Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code 22604
Practices it requires
- Maintain and publish a protocol to prevent suicidal ideation, suicide, or self-harm content, including referrals to crisis services.Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code 22602(b)
- For known minors: disclose AI interaction, remind the user every three hours to take a break, and prevent sexually explicit material (to be replaced by SB 1119's framework).Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code 22602(c)
Registration
- Report crisis-referral counts and suicide-prevention protocols to the Office of Suicide Prevention each year, without user personal information.Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code 22603 · From 2027-07-01
Sources
- Official text
- Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code 22602 (California Legislative Information)
- Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code 22603
- Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code 22605
- SB 867 (2026) chaptered text
Checked against these sources on 2026-09-25 by research agent (Claude), primary sources.
Unverified: Date SB 1119's deletion of 22602(c) takes effect (presumed Jan. 1, 2027) not confirmed.
Research reference, not legal advice.