Companion Chatbots: Children's Safety ('Adam's Law', SB 1119)
SB 1119
Artificial intelligence · Children
Signed September 10, 2026. Beginning July 1, 2027, companion chatbot operators must determine users' ages through the Digital Age Assurance Act (or treat everyone as a child), run and document child-safety risk assessments before release, set protective defaults, and undergo independent child-safety audits. It bars behavioral advertising to children, selling children's chatbot data, and using it beyond what is needed.
- Where
- California
- Citation
- Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code 21810-21816 (Chapter 11.6, added by Stats. 2026, Ch. 190)
- Status
- Enacted, not yet in force
- In force since
- 2027-01-01
- Enforced by
- California Attorney General and public prosecutors; children (or parents) who suffer actual harm
- People can sue
- Limited
- Penalties
- Civil penalty up to $5,000 per affected child per negligent violation and $15,000 per affected child per intentional violation; private action for a child who suffers actual harm (financial harm must exceed $1,000 per child).
- Applies to
- Operators of companion chatbots available to users in California; audit duties phase in for operators under $500 million revenue before 2032
Practices it requires
- Determine user age through the Digital Age Assurance Act (falling back to the SB 976 determination), or apply child protections to all users.Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code 21811 · From 2027-07-01
- Do not show children cross-context behavioral advertising or target ads using their chat content; label any ads.Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code 21813(a)(1) · From 2027-07-01
- Do not sell a child user's chatbot data or use or share it beyond providing the service, safety and security, or legal compliance; no dark patterns in safety controls.Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code 21813(a)(2) · From 2027-07-01
Other duties
- Before releasing a new or substantially modified companion chatbot, perform and document a child-safety risk assessment covering each covered harm.Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code 21812(a) · From 2027-07-01
- Obtain an independent child-safety audit by January 1, 2029 (or before first release) and every two years after; give the report to the AG on request.Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code 21814 · From 2029-01-01
Sources
Checked against these sources on 2026-09-25 by research agent (Claude), primary sources.
Unverified: The bill contains two alternative versions of section 21814 depending on whether AB 1405 (2026, AI auditor registry) takes effect by Jan. 1, 2027; press reports say AB 1405 was signed, which would activate the second version. Not confirmed on leginfo.
Research reference, not legal advice.