California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed multiple artificial intelligence safety bills into law Monday while vetoing a more restrictive measure, drawing criticism from child safety advocates who say he sided with tech companies on a key protection.

Newsom signed Senate Bill 243, which requires chatbot operators to prevent generation of content promoting suicide or self-harm and to direct users to crisis resources. For minors, operators must notify users every three hours to take a break, disclose that the chatbot is not human, and implement safeguards against sexually explicit content.

Newsom also signed separate bills addressing age verification, social media warning labels, and nonconsensual sexually explicit AI-generated content.

"Emerging technology like chatbots and social media can inspire, educate, and connect — but without real guardrails, technology can also exploit, mislead, and endanger our kids," Newsom said. "We can continue to lead in AI and technology, but we must do it responsibly — protecting our children every step of the way."

SB 243 faced an unusual alliance of opponents. TechNet, which represents OpenAI, Meta, and Google, argued the definition of "companion chatbot" was too broad and called the enforcement mechanism "overly punitive." Child safety groups including Common Sense Media and Tech Oversight California withdrew support over what they called "industry-friendly exemptions" that carved out video game chatbots and smart speaker assistants from certain notification requirements.

Newsom's veto of Assembly Bill 1064 proved more controversial. That bill would have prohibited businesses from offering companion chatbots to California minors if the chatbot was "foreseeably capable" of encouraging self-harm, violence, or disordered eating.

In his veto message, Newsom said he agreed with the bill's goal but feared it would accidentally ban AI tools minors currently use beneficially. Child safety advocates said the governor's reading was too narrow and that the bill's language contained standard legal safeguards against over-application.