# California AI Transparency Act (SB 942, as amended by AB 853 and SB 1000)

- **Jurisdiction:** California (US-CA)
- **Type:** Law · **Status:** Partly in force · **Binding:** yes
- **Issued by:** California Legislature / Governor
- **Proposed:** — · **Adopted:** 19 Sep 2024 · **Effective:** 2 Aug 2026
- **Next milestone:** 1 Jan 2027: Large online platforms must detect and display embedded provenance data
- **Obligations:** Labelling AI content, Transparency to users, Penalties
- **Sectors:** Media, Consumer
- **Penalties:** Civil penalty $5,000 per violation (each day a separate violation), enforced by the Attorney General, city attorneys or county counsel

## Summary
Requires generative AI providers whose systems are publicly accessible in California to offer a free disclosure-verification tool and embed latent provenance disclosures (provider, system and version, creation date, unique identifier, and whether AI created or altered the content) in AI-generated or altered image, video and audio. AB 853 delayed operation to 2 Aug 2026 and extended duties to large online platforms (2027) and capture-device makers (2028); SB 1000 (urgency statute, effective 30 Sep 2026) removed the 1-million-user threshold and the manifest-label option.

## Why it matters
Since 30 Sep 2026 the duties apply to every publicly accessible GenAI image, video and audio provider in California regardless of size; platforms must surface provenance from 2027.

## Source
[California Legislative Information](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billStatusClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260AB853) · [secondary](https://www.morganlewis.com/pubs/2026/08/new-california-ai-disclosure-rules-become-operative)
Checked against the source on 4 Oct 2026. SB 942 = Chapter 291, Statutes of 2024; AB 853 = Chapter 674, Statutes of 2025; SB 1000 = Chapter 861, Statutes of 2026 (approved 30 Sep 2026, urgency statute taking effect immediately). SB 1000 also delays application to GenAI systems designed primarily as assistive technology until 1 Jan 2029. AB 2713 (2026) also amends platform provenance duties.

## Cite
California AI Transparency Act (SB 942, as amended by AB 853 and SB 1000). California Legislature / Governor. Status: Partly in force. wheresthe.ai, https://wheresthe.ai/rule/us-ca-ai-transparency-act-sb942/ (verified 4 Oct 2026).

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Canonical page: https://wheresthe.ai/rule/us-ca-ai-transparency-act-sb942/ · Not legal advice.