CA-Chatbot-Safety
California Companion Chatbot Safety Act (SB 243)
- I. California Companion Chatbot Safety Act (SB 243)
- Ch. 1 — Business and Professions Code, Chapter 22.6, Sections 22601-22605
- Art. 22601. Definitions (1)
- Art. 22602. Core Operator Obligations (13)
- Art. 22603. Annual Reporting (6)
- Art. 22604. Protocol Publication (3)
- Art. 22605. Private Right of Action and Enforcement (6)
Title I — California Companion Chatbot Safety Act (SB 243)
Chapter 1 — Business and Professions Code, Chapter 22.6, Sections 22601-22605
Article 22601. Definitions
1 obligation
Article 22602. Core Operator Obligations
13 obligations
CA-CBS-22602-01
Transparency
AI Disclosure Notification Requirement
Provide clear and conspicuous notification to users that they are interacting with an artificial intelligence system and
CA-CBS-22602-02
Transparency
Minor Suitability Warning Disclosure
Disclose before or at the time of a user's first access to the platform that companion chatbots may not be suitable for
CA-CBS-22602-03
Risk Management
Suicide and Self-Harm Prevention Protocol Maintenance
Maintain a comprehensive protocol for the prevention of suicide and self-harm content that meets all specified requireme
CA-CBS-22602-04
Prohibition
Suicide/Self-Harm Content Production Prevention
Prevent the production of content that promotes, encourages, or provides instructions for suicide or self-harm as part o
CA-CBS-22602-05
Requirement
Crisis Referral Information Provision Requirement
Provide crisis referral information, including the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline and Crisis Text Line, when a user exp
CA-CBS-22602-06
Requirement
Evidence-Based Detection Methods Requirement
Use evidence-based methods for the detection of suicidal ideation, intent, and self-harm behavior as part of the suicide
CA-CBS-22602-07
Data Governance
Privacy Protection in Detection and Referral Processes
Protect user privacy in the implementation of suicide and self-harm detection and referral processes as part of the prev
CA-CBS-22602-08
Requirement
Operational Gate - No Engagement Without Protocol
Do not engage users through the companion chatbot platform unless maintaining a suicide and self-harm prevention protoco
CA-CBS-22602-09
Transparency
Protocol Publication Requirement
Publish the details of the suicide and self-harm prevention protocol on a publicly accessible internet website.
CA-CBS-22602-10
Transparency
Upfront AI Disclosure for Known/Suspected Minors
When an operator knows or reasonably should know that a user is a minor, disclose at the start of each interaction that
CA-CBS-22602-11
Requirement
Break Reminders for Minor Users
When an operator knows or reasonably should know that a user is a minor, provide clear and conspicuous notifications at
CA-CBS-22602-12
Prohibition
Prevention of Sexually Explicit Visual Content for Minors
When an operator knows or reasonably should know that a user is a minor, take reasonable measures to prevent the product
CA-CBS-22602-13
Prohibition
Prevention of Explicit Conduct Instructions to Minors
When an operator knows or reasonably should know that a user is a minor, prevent the companion chatbot from stating that
Article 22603. Annual Reporting
6 obligations
CA-CBS-22603-01
Reporting
Submit Annual Report to California Department of Public Health
An operator of a companion chatbot platform must submit an annual report to the California Department of Public Health,
CA-CBS-22603-02
Reporting
Report Crisis Referral Notifications Count
The annual report must include the number of crisis referral notifications issued to users of the companion chatbot plat
CA-CBS-22603-03
Reporting
Report Detection, Removal, and Response Protocols
The annual report must include a description of the detection, removal, and response protocols maintained by the operato
CA-CBS-22603-04
Reporting
Report Prohibition Protocols for Harmful Content
The annual report must include a description of the protocols maintained by the operator for prohibiting companion chatb
CA-CBS-22603-05
Requirement
Use Evidence-Based Measurement Methods in Reporting
The annual report must use evidence-based measurement methods to quantify and describe the required information.
CA-CBS-22603-06
Data Governance
Protect User Privacy in Annual Report
The annual report must protect user privacy and shall not include personally identifiable information about any user.
Article 22604. Protocol Publication
3 obligations
CA-CBS-22604-01
Transparency
Public posting of suicide and self-harm prevention protocol on website
Operators must publicly post their suicide and self-harm prevention protocol (required under Section 22602(a)(3)) on the
CA-CBS-22604-02
Transparency
Ensure protocol accessibility to users, researchers, and regulators
The suicide and self-harm prevention protocol must be made accessible to users, researchers, and regulators, ensuring th
CA-CBS-22604-03
Transparency
Include sufficient detail for meaningful evaluation of prevention measures
The suicide and self-harm prevention protocol must contain sufficient detail to enable meaningful evaluation of the oper
Article 22605. Private Right of Action and Enforcement
2 obligations
CA-CBS-22605-01
Requirement
Subject to civil action for violations causing injury in fact
Operators must recognize they can be subject to civil lawsuits by any person who suffers an injury in fact as a result o
CA-CBS-22605-02
Requirement
Potential liability for injunctive relief to prevent further violations
Operators may be subject to court-ordered injunctive relief to prevent further violations of this chapter as part of civ