OpenAI and Advocacy Group Push New California Youth AI Safety Legislation
In a surprising move that could reshape the future of AI regulation for children and teens, Bay Area-based child safety advocacy groups Common Sense Media and OpenAI announced their partnership to support a single, sweeping youth AI safety ballot initiative: The Parents & Kids Safe AI Act. This collaboration comes after both organizations had been pursuing separate ballot measures.
Through direct talks between senior leadership at both organizations, including CEO-level conversations, they unified their efforts due to the urgent need to protect children from AI harms and to avoid the mistakes made during the social media era. Common Sense Media CEO James P. Steyer emphasized the initiative’s focus on strong protections for kids and families.
Key Provisions of the Act
Described by both organizations as the strongest proposal of its kind in the country, the initiative lays out strict rules for how companies build and deploy AI systems used by minors. This consolidation merges two previously separate ballot efforts—one led by Common Sense Media and another supported by OpenAI—into the Parents & Kids Safe AI Act.
Bruce Reed, leading the AI policy work at Common Sense Media, highlighted that the measure will require age assurance to protect minors, bridging a significant gap in current digital protections. Companies receiving multiple age signals must apply child-protecting settings when they cannot determine if a user is an adult or a child.
The proposal also expands California’s existing privacy protections, prohibiting the sale of data without parental consent for anyone under 18, thereby addressing escalating concerns about how AI affects minors.
Safeguards Against Manipulative AI Behavior
A centerpiece of the initiative includes safeguards aimed at shielding minors from harmful or manipulative AI behavior. Reed pointed out that these concerns are top of mind for parents, especially regarding AI chatbots that simulate human relationships. The law aims to prevent manipulation by creating emotional dependence or simulating romantic relationships.
Lehane, OpenAI’s Chief Global Affairs Officer, echoed this sentiment, stressing the importance of learning from past mistakes in technology. He noted that the initiative is an opportunity to get it right from the beginning.
Enforcement and Future Steps
The role of California’s Attorney General is critical for enforcement, as they will be responsible for writing implementation rules, overseeing audits, and issuing penalties for noncompliance. This partnership reflects a broader shift in how industry and advocates interact, with Common Sense Media choosing to engage directly with leadership at major tech firms.
The next step involves formalizing the ballot committee behind the Parents & Kids Safe AI Act, with a dual pathway for potential passage—either through legislation or a statewide vote in November. If successful, this initiative could set a national standard for regulating AI before it shapes a generation without oversight.
