Omidyar Network endorses slate of 17 AI bills in California
REDWOOD CITY, CA–Omidyar Network, a California-born philanthropic and investment organization dedicated to centering humanity in our digital future, today endorsed a broad slate of California bills focused on accountability, data privacy, antitrust enforcement, and fair labor standards in the age of AI. The historic endorsement — which represents Omidyar Network’s most significant state-level legislative engagement to date — aims to address the most pressing AI issues facing Californians, and reflects the urgency of developing comprehensive AI guardrails as quickly as possible.
“To realize AI’s immense promise, we urgently need leadership from technologists, investors, civil society, and government. California has been Omidyar Network’s home base for over 20 years — it’s where we invest, hire, and collaborate,” said Mike Kubzansky, CEO of Omidyar Network. “Now, it has the opportunity to lead the nation in responsible tech governance. That’s why we’re proud to endorse these bills that promote innovation while protecting workers, consumers, and communities for Californians and beyond.”
Today’s endorsements are a natural next step in Omidyar Network’s newly exclusive focus on digital technology, and aim to lay the groundwork for future state and federal legislation on AI governance, data privacy, and tech accountability. The organization — which has invested more than $10 million in California-based organizations in the last 18 months — also hopes its endorsement will reinforce the voices of its state-based partners.
“Good policy, when done right, focuses on how we can best help people thrive,” said Michele L. Jawando, president of Omidyar Network. “We’re grateful to work with partners in the state like Common Cause California, Common Sense Media, Economic Security Project Action, TechEquity, Tech Oversight California, and grassroots advocates who understand that meaningful progress requires thoughtful action. This mix of transparency measures, protective safeguards, and accountability frameworks represents the kind of policy that makes people’s lives genuinely better. These bills ensure that as AI technology advances, it does so in ways that strengthen communities and create opportunities for everyone to benefit from innovation.”
A full rundown of endorsed legislation is available below, and the list can also be viewed on Omidyar Network’s website:
AB 316 – Prevents companies from claiming “AI autonomously caused harm” as a legal defense
AB 410 – Requires bots to disclose they’re artificial, not human
AB 853 – Requires provenance tags on content and retention of those tags by platforms
AB 1018 – Mandates transparency requirements for AI systems making life-changing decisions about employment, healthcare, or financial services
Consumer protection
SB 52 – Prohibits rental pricing algorithms
SB 361 – Expands what data brokers must disclose about the personal information they collect
AB 56 – Mandates black-box warning labels on social media
AB 446 – Bans individualized pricing based on surveillance data
AB 566 – Requires browsers to include simple opt-out settings for data sharing
AB 1064 – Creates risk-tiered AI rules for kids (LEAD)
Worker protection
SB 7 – Protects workers when employers use AI in hiring and employment decisions
SB 53 – Establishes CalCompute public AI infrastructure to ensure competition in the market and create crucial whistleblower protections for AI workers
AB 940 – Creates quantum innovation zones for R&D and jobs
AB 1331 – Limits invasive workplace surveillance technology
Antitrust
AB 325 – Modernizes antitrust law to address algorithmic price-fixing
SB 763 – Updates penalties for antitrust violations to be more meaningful deterrents
