Chatbot Laws · verified Oct. 21, 2026
It is unlawful to use a bot to communicate or interact online with a person in California with intent to mislead them about its artificial identity, in order to knowingly deceive them about the communication and incentivize a purchase or sale or influence a vote. A person who clearly and conspicuously discloses the bot is not liable.
Who must comply
Any 'person' (a natural person or any legal entity, including governments) that uses a bot online to interact with people in California. A 'bot' is an automated online account where all or substantially all actions or posts are not the result of a person. The chapter imposes no duty on service providers of online platforms such as web hosts and ISPs.
What it requires
| AI disclosure | A bot user is not liable if it discloses that it is a bot; the disclosure must be clear, conspicuous and reasonably designed to inform the people the bot communicates with that it is a bot. The duty applies only where the bot is used to mislead about its artificial identity to drive a commercial sale or purchase or to influence an election vote.When: Disclosure to the people the bot interacts with (no set interval in the text)§ 17941(a)-(b) |
|---|---|
| Other duties | Duties are cumulative with other law, the chapter is severable, and it imposes no duty on service providers of online platforms such as web hosts and internet service providers.§ 17942(a)-(c) |
Enforcement
| Private lawsuits | Not stated |
|---|---|
| Penalties | None stated in the chapter. Section 17942(a) makes its duties cumulative with other law but creates no remedy. |
Key dates
- The disclosure rule takes effect
Related laws
- California AB 1609Customer service chatbotsTakes effect Jan. 1, 2027
Sources
- SB 1001 (2018), California Legislative Information Supports: Bill status and chaptered text.
- SB 1001 (text), California Legislative Information Supports: Definitions, prohibition, safe harbor, operative date July 1, 2019.
- AB 410 (text), California Legislative Information Supports: Sections 17940-17942 were existing law in 2025; AB 410 stalled.
- Business and Professions Code 17941, California Legislative Information Supports: Current code text unchanged since Stats. 2018, Ch. 892; operative July 1, 2019.