**California Governor Signs and Vetoes Key Tech Bills Amid Mixed Reactions**

California has once again demonstrated its influence as a trailblazer in tech legislation within the United States. With a slew of proposals this year targeting artificial intelligence (AI), online safety for children, and data privacy, Governor Gavin Newsom faced critical decisions on whether to sign or veto these measures.

In a mixed bag of outcomes, Governor Newsom vetoed S.B. 1047, a bill that would have asked companies to conduct safety testing on their most advanced AI systems before releasing them. Despite strong backing from consumer advocates, the governor argued that the bill might lead the public to believe all AI models are subject to these regulations, potentially providing a "false sense of security." This led to significant lobbying efforts from industry groups to block the bill.

Governor Newsom did, however, approve several other significant proposals, especially those aimed at enhancing election integrity and tackling digitally altered content. The governor signed A.B. 2655, A.B. 2355, and A.B. 2839—all focused on AI's role in elections. These bills will necessitate that major digital platforms either remove or label deceptive election-related content and mandate clear disclosures for AI-altered images in election ads. Additionally, the time frame for prohibiting the distribution of misleading material about a candidate has been extended from 60 to 120 days before an election.

The governor also took a stand against AI-generated sexually explicit content. With the signing of S.B. 926 and S.B. 981, California will now criminalize the distribution of such material if it can be perceived as genuine and causes distress to the portrayed individual. Social media platforms will also have to provide users with a way to report incidents of "sexually explicit digital identity theft."

On the other hand, A.B. 1949, a bill aimed at expanding privacy protections for minors by preventing the sales or sharing of their personal data without consent, was vetoed. Despite support from California Attorney General Rob Bonta, Governor Newsom expressed concerns about unintended consequences that could arise from the need for companies to differentiate between minors and adults when collecting data.

Lastly, the governor signed S.B. 976, designed to combat "addictive" social media feeds aimed at minors. This new law, which parallels existing New York legislation, requires parental consent before minors can engage with potentially addictive social media content. Additionally, it limits notifications to minors during overnight and school hours without parental permission. In a related move, A.B. 3216 was also signed to restrict smartphone usage within schools.

With these decisions, Governor Newsom has taken a measured approach, balancing industry concerns with the need to address emerging technologies' potential impacts on society.