Washington – The Computer & Communications Industry Association (CCIA) supports policies across the nation that protect users online while preserving individual freedoms, upholding Constitutional rights, and avoiding legal overreach. The Association is raising concerns about three proposals under consideration by the California State Legislature – AB 56, AB 853, and AB 1064 – that, while well-intentioned, could undermine free expression, user privacy, and digital innovation across the state.
AB 56 would require social media platforms to display warning labels and a 90-second delay after users reach a certain time threshold. CCIA cautions that this mandate would not only create serious First Amendment concerns but could also limit access to digital tools for communities that rely on them, especially because the restrictions are not based on actual harm. The bill’s broad definition of “social media platform” and required time-tracking could impose expensive compliance burdens on smaller platforms and startups.
AB 853 would require major online platforms and device makers to build in technology that marks and tracks digital content. While CCIA supports efforts to promote transparency and fight misinformation, this bill could disrupt ongoing industry work to develop these tools in a careful, collaborative way. Forcing early adoption could raise costs for users, slow down innovation, and put people’s privacy at risk by allowing personal information — such as location or device details — to be shared across platforms without strong protections.
AB 1064 proposes new obligations for AI developers whose tools may be accessed by minors, but includes vague and overly broad definitions that make compliance unclear and raise the risk of costly lawsuits. The bill also establishes a publicly accessible registry that could require developers to disclose sensitive or proprietary information, and structures enforcement around fines that could incentivize overly aggressive regulation.
The following statement can be attributed to Aodhan Downey, State Policy Manager for CCIA:
“We support smart, thoughtful policy that helps keep kids safe online – but these proposals fall short of that goal. Each bill introduces broad, poorly defined requirements that could backfire by chilling speech, discouraging innovation, and reducing access to online services for families and communities across California. Lawmakers should focus on workable, targeted solutions that promote digital safety without creating new risks for users and small businesses.”
