California signs laws banning AI emotion surveillance and bot-driven mass firings
nordicinst · x · 2026-10-01
California Governor Gavin Newsom signed laws protecting workers from AI threats:
- Employers are banned from predicting workers' emotional states via biometric data
- Written notice is required if AI triggers mass layoffs
- Employers cannot rely solely on AI firing decisions
Newsom also signed an executive order requiring state agencies to say "artificial intelligence" rather than "super intelligence" (a term Trump recently ordered diplomats to use), and criticized the lack of comprehensive federal AI regulation, noting tech leaders only signed a voluntary self-policing accord. Earlier this month he signed a law requiring AI chatbot risk assessments before rollout.
Related event: California Signs Laws Banning AI Mind-Reading Surveillance of Workers(2 posts)→
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