California · Senate Bill · 2023-2024 Regular Session
SB942
California SB 942 — California AI Transparency Act (Chapter 890, as amended by AB 853)

Status ● Enacted Effective Aug 2, 2026 Passage Likelihood N/A

WHAT THIS BILL REGULATES · 1 REQUIREMENT TYPE

How Is This Bill Enforced

Enforcement Authority
Civil penalty actions filed by the Attorney General, a city attorney, or a county counsel. No private right of action.
Private Right of Action
No private right of action. Enforcement is exclusive to the designated authority.
Penalties
$5,000 civil penalty per violation; each day in violation is a discrete violation. Prevailing plaintiff entitled to reasonable attorney's costs and fees. For third-party licensee violations of § 22757.3(c)(3), injunctive relief and reasonable attorney's fees and costs are also available.

What This Bill Requires

Verbatim statutory text on the left; plain-language analysis and a per-section checklist on the right. Numbered markers cross-link to the matching checklist row.

Statutory Text
Analysis & Obligations
§ 22757.3.1(a)(1)-(2)
Large online platform — provenance detection and disclosure
Deployer

(a)(1)-(2) 1 A large online platformLarge online platform(1) "Large online platform" means a public-facing social media platform, file-sharing platform, mass messaging platform, or stand-alone search engine that distributes content to users who did not create or collaborate in creating the content that exceeded 2,000,000 unique monthly users during the preceding 12 months. (2) "Large online platform" does not include either of the following: (A) A broadband internet access service, as defined in Section 3100 of the Civil Code. (B) A telecommunications service, as defined in Section 153 of Title 47 of the United States Code.Bus. & Prof. Code § 22757.1(h) shall do all of the following: (1) Detect whether any provenance dataProvenance data"Provenance data" means data that is embedded into digital content, or that is included in the digital content's metadata, for the purpose of verifying the digital content's authenticity, origin, or history of modification.Bus. & Prof. Code § 22757.1(o) that is compliant with widely adopted specifications adopted by an established standards-setting body is embedded into or attached to content distributed on the large online platformLarge online platform(1) "Large online platform" means a public-facing social media platform, file-sharing platform, mass messaging platform, or stand-alone search engine that distributes content to users who did not create or collaborate in creating the content that exceeded 2,000,000 unique monthly users during the preceding 12 months. (2) "Large online platform" does not include either of the following: (A) A broadband internet access service, as defined in Section 3100 of the Civil Code. (B) A telecommunications service, as defined in Section 153 of Title 47 of the United States Code.Bus. & Prof. Code § 22757.1(h). (2) (A) Provide a user interface to disclose the availability of system provenance dataSystem provenance data"System provenance data" means provenance data that is not reasonably capable of being associated with a particular user and that contains either of the following: (1) Information regarding the type of device, system, or service that was used to generate a piece of digital content. (2) Information related to content authenticity.Bus. & Prof. Code § 22757.1(p) that reliably indicates that the content was generated or substantially altered by a GenAI system or captured by a capture deviceCapture device"Capture device" means a device that can record photographs, audio, or video content, including, but not limited to, video and still photography cameras, mobile phones with built-in cameras or microphones, and voice recorders.Bus. & Prof. Code § 22757.1(b). (B) The user interface required by this paragraph shall make clearly and conspicuously available to users information sufficient to identify the content's authenticity, origin, or history of modification, including, but not limited to, all of the following: (i) Whether provenance dataProvenance data"Provenance data" means data that is embedded into digital content, or that is included in the digital content's metadata, for the purpose of verifying the digital content's authenticity, origin, or history of modification.Bus. & Prof. Code § 22757.1(o) is available. (ii) The name of the GenAI system or capture deviceCapture device"Capture device" means a device that can record photographs, audio, or video content, including, but not limited to, video and still photography cameras, mobile phones with built-in cameras or microphones, and voice recorders.Bus. & Prof. Code § 22757.1(b) that created or substantially altered the content, if applicable. (iii) Whether any digital signaturesDigital signature"Digital signature" means a cryptography-based method that identifies the user or entity that attests to the information provided in the signed section.Bus. & Prof. Code § 22757.1(e) are available.

Requires large online platforms to detect standards-compliant provenance data in distributed content and surface it to users through a clear, conspicuous interface identifying AI or capture-device origin, the generating system, and the availability of digital signatures.

Compliance actions 1 item
1
Large online platformsLarge online platform(1) "Large online platform" means a public-facing social media platform, file-sharing platform, mass messaging platform, or stand-alone search engine that distributes content to users who did not create or collaborate in creating the content that exceeded 2,000,000 unique monthly users during the preceding 12 months. (2) "Large online platform" does not include either of the following: (A) A broadband internet access service, as defined in Section 3100 of the Civil Code. (B) A telecommunications service, as defined in Section 153 of Title 47 of the United States Code.Bus. & Prof. Code § 22757.1(h) (social media, file-sharing, mass messaging platforms, and stand-alone search engines with 2M+ unique monthly users) must scan content distributed on their platform to detect any provenance dataProvenance data"Provenance data" means data that is embedded into digital content, or that is included in the digital content's metadata, for the purpose of verifying the digital content's authenticity, origin, or history of modification.Bus. & Prof. Code § 22757.1(o) that conforms to widely adopted standards-body specifications. Where system provenance dataSystem provenance data"System provenance data" means provenance data that is not reasonably capable of being associated with a particular user and that contains either of the following: (1) Information regarding the type of device, system, or service that was used to generate a piece of digital content. (2) Information related to content authenticity.Bus. & Prof. Code § 22757.1(p) is found indicating AI generation, substantial AI alteration, or capture-device origin, the platform must provide a user interface that clearly and conspicuously discloses: whether provenance dataProvenance data"Provenance data" means data that is embedded into digital content, or that is included in the digital content's metadata, for the purpose of verifying the digital content's authenticity, origin, or history of modification.Bus. & Prof. Code § 22757.1(o) exists, the name of the GenAI system or capture deviceCapture device"Capture device" means a device that can record photographs, audio, or video content, including, but not limited to, video and still photography cameras, mobile phones with built-in cameras or microphones, and voice recorders.Bus. & Prof. Code § 22757.1(b) that created or altered the content, and whether digital signaturesDigital signature"Digital signature" means a cryptography-based method that identifies the user or entity that attests to the information provided in the signed section.Bus. & Prof. Code § 22757.1(e) are available. This is a detect-and-display obligation — the platform need only surface provenance signals that are already embedded in content using recognized standards.
T-02.4
§ 22757.3.1(a)(3)
Large online platform — user inspection of provenance data
Deployer

(a)(3) 2 A large online platformLarge online platform(1) "Large online platform" means a public-facing social media platform, file-sharing platform, mass messaging platform, or stand-alone search engine that distributes content to users who did not create or collaborate in creating the content that exceeded 2,000,000 unique monthly users during the preceding 12 months. (2) "Large online platform" does not include either of the following: (A) A broadband internet access service, as defined in Section 3100 of the Civil Code. (B) A telecommunications service, as defined in Section 153 of Title 47 of the United States Code.Bus. & Prof. Code § 22757.1(h) shall do all of the following: ... (3) Allow a user to inspect all available system provenance dataSystem provenance data"System provenance data" means provenance data that is not reasonably capable of being associated with a particular user and that contains either of the following: (1) Information regarding the type of device, system, or service that was used to generate a piece of digital content. (2) Information related to content authenticity.Bus. & Prof. Code § 22757.1(p) that is compliant with widely adopted specifications adopted by an established standards-setting body in an easily accessible manner by any of the following means: (A) Directly through the large online platformLarge online platform(1) "Large online platform" means a public-facing social media platform, file-sharing platform, mass messaging platform, or stand-alone search engine that distributes content to users who did not create or collaborate in creating the content that exceeded 2,000,000 unique monthly users during the preceding 12 months. (2) "Large online platform" does not include either of the following: (A) A broadband internet access service, as defined in Section 3100 of the Civil Code. (B) A telecommunications service, as defined in Section 153 of Title 47 of the United States Code.Bus. & Prof. Code § 22757.1(h)'s user interface pursuant to paragraph (2). (B) Allow the user to download a version of the content with its attached system provenance dataSystem provenance data"System provenance data" means provenance data that is not reasonably capable of being associated with a particular user and that contains either of the following: (1) Information regarding the type of device, system, or service that was used to generate a piece of digital content. (2) Information related to content authenticity.Bus. & Prof. Code § 22757.1(p). (C) Provide a link to the content's system provenance dataSystem provenance data"System provenance data" means provenance data that is not reasonably capable of being associated with a particular user and that contains either of the following: (1) Information regarding the type of device, system, or service that was used to generate a piece of digital content. (2) Information related to content authenticity.Bus. & Prof. Code § 22757.1(p) displayed on an internet website or in another application provided either by the large online platformLarge online platform(1) "Large online platform" means a public-facing social media platform, file-sharing platform, mass messaging platform, or stand-alone search engine that distributes content to users who did not create or collaborate in creating the content that exceeded 2,000,000 unique monthly users during the preceding 12 months. (2) "Large online platform" does not include either of the following: (A) A broadband internet access service, as defined in Section 3100 of the Civil Code. (B) A telecommunications service, as defined in Section 153 of Title 47 of the United States Code.Bus. & Prof. Code § 22757.1(h) or a third party.

Requires large online platforms to let users inspect the full system provenance data through at least one of three delivery methods: inline display, downloadable content with attached provenance, or a link to the provenance record.

Compliance actions 1 item
2
Beyond detecting and disclosing provenance dataProvenance data"Provenance data" means data that is embedded into digital content, or that is included in the digital content's metadata, for the purpose of verifying the digital content's authenticity, origin, or history of modification.Bus. & Prof. Code § 22757.1(o), large online platformsLarge online platform(1) "Large online platform" means a public-facing social media platform, file-sharing platform, mass messaging platform, or stand-alone search engine that distributes content to users who did not create or collaborate in creating the content that exceeded 2,000,000 unique monthly users during the preceding 12 months. (2) "Large online platform" does not include either of the following: (A) A broadband internet access service, as defined in Section 3100 of the Civil Code. (B) A telecommunications service, as defined in Section 153 of Title 47 of the United States Code.Bus. & Prof. Code § 22757.1(h) must allow users to inspect the full system provenance dataSystem provenance data"System provenance data" means provenance data that is not reasonably capable of being associated with a particular user and that contains either of the following: (1) Information regarding the type of device, system, or service that was used to generate a piece of digital content. (2) Information related to content authenticity.Bus. & Prof. Code § 22757.1(p) in an easily accessible way. The platform may satisfy this through any of three methods: (1) inline display through its own UI, (2) enabling the user to download the content with provenance dataProvenance data"Provenance data" means data that is embedded into digital content, or that is included in the digital content's metadata, for the purpose of verifying the digital content's authenticity, origin, or history of modification.Bus. & Prof. Code § 22757.1(o) attached, or (3) providing a link to the provenance dataProvenance data"Provenance data" means data that is embedded into digital content, or that is included in the digital content's metadata, for the purpose of verifying the digital content's authenticity, origin, or history of modification.Bus. & Prof. Code § 22757.1(o) on a website or app (the platform's own or a third party's). Platforms have flexibility in which method to use but must offer at least one.
T-02.5
§ 22757.3.1(b)
Large online platform — prohibition on stripping provenance data
Deployer

(b) 3 A large online platformLarge online platform(1) "Large online platform" means a public-facing social media platform, file-sharing platform, mass messaging platform, or stand-alone search engine that distributes content to users who did not create or collaborate in creating the content that exceeded 2,000,000 unique monthly users during the preceding 12 months. (2) "Large online platform" does not include either of the following: (A) A broadband internet access service, as defined in Section 3100 of the Civil Code. (B) A telecommunications service, as defined in Section 153 of Title 47 of the United States Code.Bus. & Prof. Code § 22757.1(h) shall not, to the extent technically feasible, knowingly strip any system provenance dataSystem provenance data"System provenance data" means provenance data that is not reasonably capable of being associated with a particular user and that contains either of the following: (1) Information regarding the type of device, system, or service that was used to generate a piece of digital content. (2) Information related to content authenticity.Bus. & Prof. Code § 22757.1(p) or digital signatureDigital signature"Digital signature" means a cryptography-based method that identifies the user or entity that attests to the information provided in the signed section.Bus. & Prof. Code § 22757.1(e) that is compliant with widely adopted specifications adopted by an established standards-setting body from content uploaded or distributed on the large online platformLarge online platform(1) "Large online platform" means a public-facing social media platform, file-sharing platform, mass messaging platform, or stand-alone search engine that distributes content to users who did not create or collaborate in creating the content that exceeded 2,000,000 unique monthly users during the preceding 12 months. (2) "Large online platform" does not include either of the following: (A) A broadband internet access service, as defined in Section 3100 of the Civil Code. (B) A telecommunications service, as defined in Section 153 of Title 47 of the United States Code.Bus. & Prof. Code § 22757.1(h).

Prohibits large online platforms from knowingly stripping standards-compliant system provenance data or digital signatures from uploaded or distributed content, to the extent technically feasible.

Compliance actions 1 item
3
Large online platformsLarge online platform(1) "Large online platform" means a public-facing social media platform, file-sharing platform, mass messaging platform, or stand-alone search engine that distributes content to users who did not create or collaborate in creating the content that exceeded 2,000,000 unique monthly users during the preceding 12 months. (2) "Large online platform" does not include either of the following: (A) A broadband internet access service, as defined in Section 3100 of the Civil Code. (B) A telecommunications service, as defined in Section 153 of Title 47 of the United States Code.Bus. & Prof. Code § 22757.1(h) must not knowingly strip standards-compliant system provenance dataSystem provenance data"System provenance data" means provenance data that is not reasonably capable of being associated with a particular user and that contains either of the following: (1) Information regarding the type of device, system, or service that was used to generate a piece of digital content. (2) Information related to content authenticity.Bus. & Prof. Code § 22757.1(p) or digital signaturesDigital signature"Digital signature" means a cryptography-based method that identifies the user or entity that attests to the information provided in the signed section.Bus. & Prof. Code § 22757.1(e) from content that is uploaded to or distributed on the platform, to the extent this is technically feasible. This is a preservation duty — the platform need not add provenance dataProvenance data"Provenance data" means data that is embedded into digital content, or that is included in the digital content's metadata, for the purpose of verifying the digital content's authenticity, origin, or history of modification.Bus. & Prof. Code § 22757.1(o), but it must not remove what is already there. The 'knowingly' and 'technically feasible' qualifiers provide a safe harbor for incidental or unavoidable data loss during normal processing, but deliberate removal of recognized provenance signals is prohibited.
T-02.6
§ 22757.3.2(a)
GenAI hosting platform — gatekeeping of non-compliant systems
Distributor

(a) 4 A GenAI system hosting platform shall not knowingly make available a GenAI system that does not place disclosures pursuant to Section 22757.3.

Prohibits platforms that host GenAI systems for download from knowingly making available any system that fails to embed the latent provenance disclosures required by Section 22757.3.

Compliance actions 1 item
4
Platforms that host GenAI systems for download (source code or model weights) must not knowingly make available any GenAI system that fails to include the latentLatent"Latent" means present but not manifest.Bus. & Prof. Code § 22757.1(i) provenance disclosures required by § 22757.3 (the existing covered-provider disclosure obligations). This effectively extends enforcement upstream: hosting platforms become gatekeepers that must verify their hosted GenAI systems embed proper provenance dataProvenance data"Provenance data" means data that is embedded into digital content, or that is included in the digital content's metadata, for the purpose of verifying the digital content's authenticity, origin, or history of modification.Bus. & Prof. Code § 22757.1(o) before distribution. The 'knowingly' standard provides a scienter requirement — hosting platforms are not strictly liable for every non-compliant system but must not distribute them with actual knowledge of non-compliance.
T-02.2
§ 22757.3.3(a)-(b)
Capture device manufacturer — latent provenance disclosures
Manufacturer

(a)-(b) 5 A capture device manufacturerCapture device manufacturer(1) "Capture device manufacturer" means a person who produces a capture device for sale in the state. (2) "Capture device manufacturer" does not include a person exclusively engaged in the assembly of a capture device.Bus. & Prof. Code § 22757.1(c) shall, with respect to any capture deviceCapture device"Capture device" means a device that can record photographs, audio, or video content, including, but not limited to, video and still photography cameras, mobile phones with built-in cameras or microphones, and voice recorders.Bus. & Prof. Code § 22757.1(b) the capture device manufacturerCapture device manufacturer(1) "Capture device manufacturer" means a person who produces a capture device for sale in the state. (2) "Capture device manufacturer" does not include a person exclusively engaged in the assembly of a capture device.Bus. & Prof. Code § 22757.1(c) first produced for sale in the state on or after January 1, 2028, do both of the following: (1) Provide a user with the option to include a latentLatent"Latent" means present but not manifest.Bus. & Prof. Code § 22757.1(i) disclosure in content captured by the capture deviceCapture device"Capture device" means a device that can record photographs, audio, or video content, including, but not limited to, video and still photography cameras, mobile phones with built-in cameras or microphones, and voice recorders.Bus. & Prof. Code § 22757.1(b) that conveys all of the following information: (A) The name of the capture device manufacturerCapture device manufacturer(1) "Capture device manufacturer" means a person who produces a capture device for sale in the state. (2) "Capture device manufacturer" does not include a person exclusively engaged in the assembly of a capture device.Bus. & Prof. Code § 22757.1(c). (B) The name and version number of the capture deviceCapture device"Capture device" means a device that can record photographs, audio, or video content, including, but not limited to, video and still photography cameras, mobile phones with built-in cameras or microphones, and voice recorders.Bus. & Prof. Code § 22757.1(b) that created or altered the content. (C) The time and date of the content's creation or alteration. (2) Embed latentLatent"Latent" means present but not manifest.Bus. & Prof. Code § 22757.1(i) disclosures in content captured by the device by default. (b) A capture device manufacturerCapture device manufacturer(1) "Capture device manufacturer" means a person who produces a capture device for sale in the state. (2) "Capture device manufacturer" does not include a person exclusively engaged in the assembly of a capture device.Bus. & Prof. Code § 22757.1(c) shall comply with this section only to the extent technically feasible and compliant with widely adopted specifications adopted by an established standards-setting body.

Beginning January 1, 2028, requires capture device manufacturers to offer users the option to embed latent provenance disclosures (manufacturer, device name and version, and timestamp) in captured content and to enable that feature by default, subject to technical feasibility and adopted standards.

Compliance actions 1 item
5
Beginning January 1, 2028, manufacturers of cameras, phones, voice recorders, and similar capture devicesCapture device"Capture device" means a device that can record photographs, audio, or video content, including, but not limited to, video and still photography cameras, mobile phones with built-in cameras or microphones, and voice recorders.Bus. & Prof. Code § 22757.1(b) must — for any device first produced for sale in California on or after that date — (1) give users the option to embed latentLatent"Latent" means present but not manifest.Bus. & Prof. Code § 22757.1(i) (machine-readable, not human-visible) provenance disclosures in captured content, conveying the manufacturer name, device name and version, and creation/alteration timestamp; and (2) enable this disclosure feature by default. Both obligations are subject to two safety valves: technical feasibility and compliance with widely adopted standards-body specifications. Assembly-only firms are excluded from the manufacturer definition. This is a notable extension of AI provenance law into hardware, aimed at creating an authenticity baseline for non-AI-generated content.
T-02.2

Passage Likelihood

Enacted
Status Enacted

Legislative History

2024-01-17 Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print.
2024-01-18 From printer. May be acted upon on or after February 17.
2024-02-14 Referred to Com. on RLS.
2024-03-20 From committee with author's amendments. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on RLS.
2024-04-03 Re-referred to Coms. on JUD. and G.O.
2024-04-05 Set for hearing April 16.
2024-04-17 From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on G.O. (Ayes 10. Noes 1. Page 3634.) (April 16). Re-referred to Com. on G.O.
2024-04-22 Set for hearing April 23.
2024-04-23 From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 11. Noes 1. Page 3721.) (April 23). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
2024-04-26 Set for hearing May 6.
2024-05-06 May 6 hearing: Placed on APPR suspense file.
2024-05-10 Set for hearing May 16.
2024-05-16 From committee: Do pass as amended. (Ayes 5. Noes 0. Page 3964.) (May 16).
2024-05-16 Read second time and amended. Ordered to second reading.
2024-05-20 Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
2024-05-21 Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 32. Noes 1. Page 4074.) Ordered to the Assembly.
2024-05-22 In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk.
2024-06-03 Referred to Coms. on P. & C.P. and JUD.
2024-06-19 From committee: Do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on JUD. (Ayes 8. Noes 0.) (June 18).
2024-06-20 Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on JUD.
2024-07-02 From committee: Do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 9. Noes 1.) (July 2).
2024-07-03 Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
2024-08-07 August 7 set for first hearing. Placed on suspense file.
2024-08-15 From committee: Do pass as amended. (Ayes 11. Noes 0.) (August 15).
2024-08-19 Read second time and amended. Ordered to second reading.
2024-08-20 Read second time. Ordered to third reading.
2024-08-23 Read third time and amended.
2024-08-23 Ordered to third reading.
2024-08-28 Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 73. Noes 0. Page 6715.) Ordered to the Senate.
2024-08-28 In Senate. Concurrence in Assembly amendments pending.
2024-08-29 Assembly amendments concurred in. (Ayes 35. Noes 2. Page 5636.) Ordered to engrossing and enrolling.
2024-09-09 Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 3 p.m.
2024-09-19 Approved by the Governor.
2024-09-19 Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 291, Statutes of 2024.

Entry Last Reviewed

2026-07-09
AI generated · Human reviewed