Nine new laws will help consumers, workers, families, and spur AI innovation in California
REDWOOD CITY, CA, October 15, 2025 – Omidyar Network, a California-born philanthropic and investment organization dedicated to centering humanity in our digital future, today applauded Governor Newsom for signing nine AI-related pieces of legislation into law. These new laws will help to address some of the most pressing AI issues facing Californians, including by protecting consumers, promoting competition, and spurring AI innovation.
“Omidyar Network has called California home for more than 20 years, and we are proud to have worked alongside policymakers, responsible industry leaders, and incredible advocates to help build a better digital future for California consumers, workers, and families,” said Michele L. Jawando, President of Omidyar Network. “We know that AI is not destiny, it is design. This moment calls for thoughtful leadership that empowers communities, protects consumers, and pairs innovation with accountability – and that’s exactly what these new laws do. We look forward to continued progress in the months and years ahead.”
“These new laws are an important milestone in the fight for a better AI future,“ said Anamitra Deb, Senior Vice President of Policy and Programs at Omidyar Network. “Combined, they are a powerful platform upon which we can build to ensure children are safe online, that vulnerable seniors are protected from fraud and theft, and that workers get protections from automated decision systems. We also applaud the work of CITED / Common Cause California, Common Sense Media, Economic Security Project Action, TechEquity, Tech Oversight California, and the many grassroots advocates who fought to turn these bills into law.”
The following bills – which were endorsed by Omidyar Network in August as part of the organization’s most sweeping legislative engagement to date — were recently signed into law:
- SB 53: Establishes CalCompute public AI infrastructure to ensure competition in the market and creates crucial whistleblower protections for AI workers;
- SB 36I: Expands transparency requirements for data brokers, helping consumers understand who holds their information and how it’s used;
- SB 763: Increases criminal and civil penalties for anti-competitive behavior under the state’s antitrust laws;
- AB 56: Requires social media platforms to show users under 18 years of age warning labels;
- AB 316: Prohibits a defendant from asserting the defense that AI autonomously caused harm to a plaintiff;
- AB 325: Ensures that California’s antitrust laws apply to algorithmic price-fixing;
- AB 566: Makes it easier for users to opt out of data sales and sharing by requiring browsers to include a single, universal opt-out preference signal;
- AB 853: Requires online and generative AI system hosting platforms to tag and disclose AI-generated and AI-altered content; and
- AB 940: Positions California to lead the quantum revolution while ensuring its benefits, including high-paying jobs and broader economic growth, are shared across communities.
For a full list of endorsed legislation, please see Omidyar Network’s website.
###
About Omidyar Network
Omidyar Network is a philanthropic organization whose mission is to bend the arc of the digital revolution toward shared power, prosperity, and possibility. Digital technology is a powerful and ubiquitous force that, harnessed wisely, makes wondrous things happen. We believe in working together to guide tech’s trajectory intentionally. Our vision is for our shared humanity to steer our digital future. So far, we have committed more than $1.94 billion to initiatives that share our vision. We engage, partner, and fund some of the world’s brightest thinkers and innovators to guide our digital future toward the greatest good for the greatest number of people.