{"slug":"us-california-ai-transparency-act-sb-942","id":"AIPT-POL-0207","permanent_url":"https://aipolicytracker.org/id/AIPT-POL-0207","title":"California AI Transparency Act (SB 942, as amended by AB 853)","short_title":"California AI Transparency Act (SB 942)","jurisdiction":"us-california","instrument_type":"act","status":"adopted","is_binding":true,"ai_specific":true,"issuing_body":"California State Legislature","summary_plain":"Covered providers of generative AI systems must offer a free AI-detection tool and embed disclosures and provenance data in AI-generated content. AB 853 (Chapter 674, Statutes of 2025) moved the operative date to 2 August 2026 and added duties for large online platforms and generative-AI hosting platforms.","adopted_on":null,"in_force_on":null,"applies_from":"2026-08-02","official_source_url":"https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202320240SB942","last_verified_at":null,"reviewed_by":null,"content_version":1,"review_status":"pending_review","confidence_level":"medium","updated_at":"2026-10-15T06:46:25+00:00","url":"https://aipolicytracker.org/policies/us-california-ai-transparency-act-sb-942","status_note":"Recorded on 15 October 2026 from search-engine extracts of the official pages listed; the official text could not be opened from the research environment, so every date and duty here is pending review against it.","scope_summary":"Covered providers of generative AI systems used in California; from 2027, large online platforms and hosting platforms under AB 853.","who_it_applies_to":"Large generative-AI providers, and from 2027 large online platforms and generative-AI hosting platforms.","key_dates_summary":"AB 853 approved 13 October 2025; provider duties operative 2 August 2026; platform duties operative 1 January 2027; one further section operative 1 January 2028.","penalties_summary":null,"what_organizations_must_do":null,"published_on":null,"date_notes":"SB 942's own chapter number and signing date were not confirmed; the code display page still shows a 1 January 2026 effective date, which appears to predate AB 853.","taxonomy":{"actor":["provider","distributor","gpai_provider"],"ai_system_type":["generative_ai"],"sector":["media_information"],"risk_category":["transparency_risk"],"use_case":["generative_ai","content_moderation"]},"sections":[],"obligations":[],"applicability_rules":[],"deadlines":[],"versions":[],"enforcement_events":[],"procurement_rules":[],"sources":[{"title":"California Legislative Information: SB 942 (2023-2024)","publisher":"California Legislative Information","url":"https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202320240SB942","document_date":null,"document_type":"legislation","tier":1,"tier_label":"Official primary source (government, legislature, regulator, court, standards body, intergovernmental)"},{"title":"California Legislative Information: AB 853 (2025-2026) status","publisher":"California Legislative Information","url":"https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billStatusClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AB853","document_date":"2025-10-13","document_type":"legislation","tier":1,"tier_label":"Official primary source (government, legislature, regulator, court, standards body, intergovernmental)"}],"related_policies":["us-california-ab-2013-training-data-transparency"],"related_frameworks":[],"faq":[],"source":{"official_source_url":"https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202320240SB942","source_title":"California Legislative Information: SB 942 (2023-2024)","source_publisher":"California Legislative Information","source_document_date":null,"source_reference":null,"source_tier":1,"last_checked_at":"2026-10-15","last_verified_at":null,"review_status":"pending_review","confidence_level":"medium","content_version":1,"change_summary":"Added in the October 2026 sub-national research round. Recorded on 15 October 2026 from search-engine extracts of the official pages listed; the official text could not be opened from the research environment, so every date and duty here is pending review against it.","reviewed_by":null},"second_review":null}