SB 942 (AI Transparency Act)
California AI Transparency Act (SB 942, as amended by AB 853)
California · Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code § 22757 et seq. (SB 942, as amended by AB 853)
- Status
- In effect
- Took effect
- August 2, 2026
- Applies to
- Covered GenAI providers with 1M+ monthly users accessible in California; from 2027, large online platforms, hosting platforms, and capture-device manufacturers
- Enforced by
- California Attorney General, city attorneys, county counsels
Large generative AI providers (over 1 million monthly users) must offer a free AI-detection tool and embed disclosures in AI-generated images, video, and audio, including hidden watermark-style disclosures. A 2025 amendment (AB 853) delayed the start to August 2, 2026 and extended duties to large online platforms (from January 1, 2027) and camera and other capture-device makers (from January 1, 2028).
Who is protected: California consumers and the public exposed to synthetic media
Legal detail
Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code § 22757 et seq. (Stats. 2024, ch. 291); AB 853 (Stats. 2025, ch. 674, approved Oct. 13, 2025) delayed the operative date for covered GenAI providers from Jan. 1, 2026 to Aug. 2, 2026, with large-online-platform and GenAI-hosting-platform obligations operative Jan. 1, 2027 and capture-device manufacturer obligations operative Jan. 1, 2028.
Key facts
| Jurisdiction | California |
|---|---|
| Level | State |
| Strength | Limited |
| Enacted | September 19, 2024 |
| Citation | Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code § 22757 et seq. (SB 942, as amended by AB 853) |
| Private right of action | No, agency enforcement only |
| Penalties | $5,000 per violation per day, plus attorney's fees and costs |
| Topics | AI disclosure and transparency · AI-generated images · deepfakes · consumer protection |
| Bill text | California Legislative Information: SB 942 (2023–2024) |
More AI rules in California
- CA EO N-6-26 (AI Workforce) · In effect
- California AB 489 (AI healthcare chatbot misrepresentation ban) · In effect
- X.AI v. Bonta (AB 2013 training-data disclosure) · Blocked / in litigation
- CA SB 1168 — data center grid cost allocation · Enacted (not yet in effect)
- California SB 1119 Adam's Law, companion chatbots (2026) · Enacted (not yet in effect)
- California SB 867 AI chatbot toy moratorium (2026) · Enacted (not yet in effect)
Related AI disclosure and transparency rules elsewhere
- Trump AI Innovation & Security EO (June 2026) · In effect
- FERC order directing PJM and other grid operators to reform tariffs on… · Enacted (not yet in effect)
- Morris County resolution urging state oversight of data center power… · Enacted (not yet in effect)
- SU-47 Special-Use Data Center Zoning District Ordinance · Proposed / pending
- Cherokee Nation EO 2026-02-CTH (Data Center Task Force) · In effect
- NAIC AI Evaluation Tool Pilot (12 states, 2026) · Proposed / pending
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