CaliforniaEnacted
SB 942

California AI Transparency Act

Effective August 2, 2026
By · Editorial Team
Published Reviewed
Last checked today🕐 18 Aug 2026, 20:18 UTCRe-verified against official primary sources · last change Jul 10, 2026 — leginfo.legislature.ca.gov ↗

Requires a “covered provider” — a publicly accessible generative-AI system with over 1,000,000 monthly users — to offer a free, publicly accessible AI-detection tool, embed a latent disclosure in AI-generated image, video and audio content, and offer users the option of a visible manifest disclosure. It does not regulate AI-assisted decisions about consumers.

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Maximum penalty: $5,000 per violation; each day is a discrete violation
Non-compliance can carry significant liability — verify against the official text below.
Bill / statute
SB 942
Jurisdiction
California
Status
Enacted
Effective / deadline
August 2, 2026
Maximum penalty
$5,000 per violation; each day is a discrete violation
Scope

Who it affects

Providers of generative-AI systems with over 1,000,000 monthly users that are publicly accessible in California, and third-party licensees of those systems — a provider must revoke a licence within 96 hours of discovering the licensee stripped the latent disclosure.

Verify it yourself

Official source & full context

Primary government sourceRead the official text — leginfo.legislature.ca.govJurisdiction hubAI laws in CaliforniaFull jurisdiction guide, live news & related bills
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Editorial standards

Anchored to the primary government source (statute, bill text, or agency rule) and verified directly against it · Last verified Jul 10, 2026. See our methodology.

Primary sources · SB 942 — California AI Transparency Act