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California AI ballot initiative would impose age assurance, AI guardrails on chatbots

( January 12, 2026, 21:57 GMT | Official Statement) -- MLex Summary: Common Sense Media and Open AI announced their joint backing of the Parents & Kids Safe AI Act, a California ballot initiative billed as the most comprehensive youth AI safety measure in the US, after consolidating two competing ballot initiatives into a single framework. The measure would require AI companies to implement age-assurance tools, restrict minors’ access to AI companion chatbots, ban child-targeted advertising, and prohibit the sale or sharing of children’s data without parental consent. It would also mandate parental controls, safeguards against self-harm and sexual content, independent safety audits, and annual risk assessments, with enforcement authority vested in the California attorney general, including the ability to seek financial penalties.Statement follows below:...

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