Tag: Gavin Newsom

Assistive TechnologyPolicy

California Governor Vetoes Data Center Water Reporting Bill Amid Drought Concerns

California Governor Gavin Newsom has vetoed legislation that would have required data centers to disclose water consumption levels. The decision comes as the state faces significant water sustainability challenges and data centers continue to expand in water-stressed regions.

Governor Blocks Mandatory Water Reporting for Data Centers

California Governor Gavin Newsom has vetoed legislation that would have required data centers in the state to disclose their water consumption levels, according to reports. The decision, first reported by The Register, blocks Assembly Bill 93 which would have mandated water use reporting for an industry known for significant water consumption for cooling operations.

by Tyler Brooks P.E
Arts and EntertainmentPolicy

Newsom Vetoes Child AI Safety Bill Amid Industry Pressure, Signs Other Regulations

Governor Gavin Newsom has rejected legislation that would have required AI companies to prove their chatbots could safely protect minors from harmful content. The decision comes as California simultaneously enforces other AI safety regulations through different legislation.

Landmark Child Protection Bill Vetoed

California Governor Gavin Newsom has vetoed Assembly Bill 1064, legislation that would have mandated AI chatbot companies prove their products could reliably prevent minors from accessing inappropriate or dangerous content. According to reports, the bill would have been the first regulation of its kind in the nation, requiring companies to implement guardrails against adult roleplay and conversations about self-harm and suicide before allowing minor access.

by Megan Carter
Assistive TechnologyPolicy

California Age-Gate Law Transforms App Store Safety Standards

California Governor Gavin Newsom has signed AB 1043 into law, establishing age-gating requirements for app stores and operating systems. The legislation creates four age categories for users without requiring parental consent or photo ID uploads. These changes represent California’s latest move in digital safety regulation.

California has enacted groundbreaking age-gate legislation that will fundamentally change how app stores and operating systems handle minor users. Governor Gavin Newsom signed AB 1043 into law alongside several other internet safety bills, positioning California at the forefront of digital protection for children and teens. The new requirements represent a more privacy-conscious approach to age verification compared to laws in other states, receiving unanimous legislative support and backing from major technology companies.

How California’s App Store Age Verification Works

by Megan Carter
GovernmentPolicy

California Enacts Landmark AI Safety Laws with $250K Fake Nude Penalties

California has passed groundbreaking legislation regulating AI companion bots and dramatically increasing penalties for deepfake pornography. The new laws address teen safety concerns following multiple suicide cases linked to chatbot interactions and rising incidents of AI-generated explicit content targeting minors.

California is implementing sweeping new regulations targeting artificial intelligence technologies that pose risks to children, with Governor Gavin Newsom signing legislation that establishes the nation’s first companion bot safeguards and increases maximum penalties for deepfake pornography to $250,000. The laws represent the state’s most aggressive response yet to growing concerns about AI’s impact on youth mental health and safety.

Companion Bot Regulations and Suicide Prevention Protocols

by Megan Carter
BusinessEnergy

California Refinery Closure Impacts Skilled Workers as State Transitions from Fossil Fuels

A California pipe fitter earning $118,000 annually faces career uncertainty as the Phillips 66 Los Angeles refinery prepares to close. The shutdown reflects broader industry transitions affecting thousands of skilled workers across the state’s refining sector.

California refinery workers are facing unprecedented career uncertainty as the state’s energy transition accelerates, with skilled tradespeople like pipe fitter Wilfredo Cruz reaching substantial earnings only to confront potential job loss when facilities close. The 37-year-old has worked for twelve years at the Phillips 66 refinery in Los Angeles, building his income to $118,000 annually, but now wonders what comes next as the facility prepares to cease operations.

Refinery Closure Impacts Skilled Workforce

by Megan Carter