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Bill

SB 867

Toys: companion chatbots.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Juan Alanis and 9 co-sponsors

California bill regulates AI chatbot toys for children with safety and privacy standards, addressing unvetted AI interactions with minors but potentially increasing compliance costs for manufacturers.

From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 14. Noes 1.) (June 16). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
#toys #companionchatbots
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · SB 867

Legislative bill overview

SB 867 regulates companion chatbots marketed as toys to children in California. The bill appears to establish safety, privacy, and operational standards for AI-powered conversational devices designed for young users. Specific provisions are not publicly detailed in available legislative summaries.

Why is this important

Children's AI chatbot toys are an emerging product category with limited regulation, raising concerns about data collection, inappropriate content exposure, and developmental effects. California's action could establish a model for other states and influence how tech companies design products for minors. The bill responds to growing parental and advocacy concerns about unvetted AI interactions with children.

Potential points of contention

  • Defining scope: What qualifies as a "companion chatbot" toy versus general educational software or smart devices—overly broad definitions could capture many products, while narrow ones might miss problematic devices
  • Compliance burden: Manufacturers may argue that strict California standards increase costs and create market fragmentation, particularly for smaller companies
  • Innovation vs. safety: Tensions between protecting children and allowing development of beneficial educational AI technologies; unclear how regulations balance these competing interests
  • Data privacy specifics: How the bill handles data collection, parental consent mechanisms, and what happens to children's conversational data remains a key implementation question

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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