California Bot Disclosure Law (SB 1001)
In force since 1 July 2019
Agent Navigation: For section discovery, use /regulations/us/ca-bot-disclosure/llms.txt
Quick Reference
The California Bot Disclosure Law (SB 1001) requires bots to disclose their artificial identity when communicating with people in California online, if the intent is to influence a commercial transaction or an election.
Q: Do I need to disclose that I’m an AI/bot when talking to someone in California? A: Yes, if you’re on a platform with 10M+ monthly US users AND you’re trying to influence a purchase/sale or election vote [BPC § 17941(a)].
Key rule (§ 17941): Bots must make a “clear, conspicuous” disclosure that they are bots when communicating with Californians to influence commercial transactions or elections.
Rule: Undisclosed bots that deceive Californians about commercial transactions or elections are unlawful under California Business and Professions Code § 17941.
Applies to: Any person operating a bot on an online platform with 10M+ monthly US users
Key rules:
- Must disclose you’re a bot if influencing purchases/sales [BPC § 17941(a)]
- Must disclose you’re a bot if influencing election votes [BPC § 17941(a)]
- Disclosure must be clear, conspicuous, reasonably designed to inform [BPC § 17941(b)]
- No liability if proper disclosure is made [BPC § 17941(a)]
| Question | Answer | Citation |
|---|---|---|
| Do I need to disclose I’m a bot? | Yes, if influencing commerce or elections | § 17941(a) |
| What platforms does this apply to? | Platforms with 10M+ monthly US users | § 17940(c) |
| What’s the disclosure standard? | Clear, conspicuous, reasonably designed to inform | § 17941(b) |
| What’s the penalty? | $2,500 per violation (UCL) | CA Bus. & Prof. Code § 17200 |
| Are service providers liable? | No, exempted | § 17942(c) |
| When did this take effect? | July 1, 2019 | § 17943 |