California 2017 2017-2018 Regular Session

California Senate Bill SB1001 Amended / Bill

Filed 06/21/2018

                    Amended IN  Assembly  June 21, 2018 Amended IN  Senate  May 25, 2018 Amended IN  Senate  April 26, 2018 Amended IN  Senate  March 14, 2018 CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20172018 REGULAR SESSION Senate Bill No. 1001Introduced by Senator HertzbergFebruary 05, 2018 An act to add Chapter 6 (commencing with Section 17940) to Part 3 of Division 7 of the Business and Professions Code, relating to bots.LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGESTSB 1001, as amended, Hertzberg. Bots: disclosure.Existing law regulates various businesses to, among other things, preserve and regulate competition, prohibit unfair trade practices, and regulate advertising.This bill would would, with certain exceptions, make it unlawful for any person to use a bot, as defined, to communicate or interact with natural persons another person in California online with the intention of misleading and would provide that a person using a bot is presumed to not act with the intent to mislead if the person discloses that the bot is not a natural person. The bill would require an online platform to enable users to report violations of this prohibition, and would require the online platform to respond to the reports and, upon request, provide the Attorney General with specified related information. intent to mislead the other person about its artificial identity for the purpose of knowingly deceiving the person about the content of the communication in order to incentivize a purchase or sale of goods or services in a commercial transaction or to influence a vote in an election.Digest Key Vote: MAJORITY  Appropriation: NO  Fiscal Committee: YES  Local Program: NO Bill TextThe people of the State of California do enact as follows:SECTION 1. Chapter 6 (commencing with Section 17940) is added to Part 3 of Division 7 of the Business and Professions Code, to read: CHAPTER 6. Bots17940. For purposes of this chapter:(a) Bot means an online account that is automated online account on an online platform that is designed to mimic or behave like the account of a natural person.(b) Online means appearing on any public-facing Internet Web site, Web application, or digital application, including a social network or publication.(c) Online platform means any public-facing Internet Web site, Web application, or digital application, including a social network or publication.(d) Person means a natural person, corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, association, estate, trust, government, governmental subdivision or agency, or other legal entity or any combination thereof.17941. (a) It shall be unlawful for any person to use a bot to communicate or interact with natural persons another person in California online, with the intention of misleading a natural person about its artificial identity. A person using a bot is presumed to not act with the intent to mislead if the person discloses that the bot is not a natural person. intent to mislead the other person about its artificial identity for the purpose of knowingly deceiving the person about the content of the communication in order to incentivize a purchase or sale of goods or services in a commercial transaction or to influence a vote in an election. A person using a bot shall not be liable under this section if the person discloses that it is a bot.(b)The disclosure required by this chapter shall be clear and conspicuous to all natural persons with whom the bot communicates or interacts.(c)A statement shall be considered a disclosure that a bot is not a person if it includes language stating the bot is a bot or is auto-generated. (b) The disclosure required by this section shall be clear, conspicuous, and reasonably designed to inform persons with whom the bot communicates or interacts that it is a bot.17942.(a)An online platform shall enable users to identify and report bots that the user suspects of violating Section 17941.(b)(1)After receiving notice of a bot pursuant to subdivision (a), an online platform shall expeditiously investigate and determine whether or not to disclose that the bot is not a natural person or remove the bot.(2)An online platforms investigation and response shall be expeditious if it occurs within 72 hours of receipt of the notice.(c)Upon request of the Attorney General, an online platform shall provide reports detailing notices received pursuant to subdivision (b) and actions taken in response.17943.(a)(1)For text and graphic communications, a statement shall be considered to be made in a clear and conspicuous manner if it is made in larger type than the surrounding text, is in a contrasting type, font, or color to the surrounding text of the same size, or is set off from the surrounding text of the same size by symbols or other marks in a manner that clearly calls attention to the language.(2)For audio communications, a statement shall be considered to be made in a clear and conspicuous manner if it is spoken in a clearly audible and intelligible manner at the beginning of the communication.(3)For video communications, a statement shall be considered to be made in a clear and conspicuous manner if it is in a written format that meets the requirements of paragraph (1) and appears for at least four seconds and in an audible format that meets the requirements of paragraph (2).(4)For any other communications, a statement shall be considered to be made in a clear and conspicuous manner if it is made in a manner that is at least as clear and conspicuous as described in paragraphs (1) to (3), inclusive.(b)A statement is not made in a clear and conspicuous manner if it is difficult to read or hear or if the placement is easily overlooked.17944. 17942. (a) The duties and obligations imposed by this chapter are cumulative with any other duties or obligation imposed by any other law.(b) The provisions of this chapter are severable. If any provision of this chapter or its application is held invalid, that invalidity shall not affect other provisions or applications that can be given effect without the invalid provision or application.(c)The duties and obligations imposed by this chapter shall not apply to bots to the extent they are communicating on behalf of a corporation, limited partnership, limited liability company, or other form of business entity, with users or customers of that business, and the user or customer has specifically opted in to such communications after clear and conspicuous disclosure about their automated nature. (d)(c) This section chapter does not impose a duty on service providers of online platforms, including, but not limited to, Web hosting and Internet service providers.

 Amended IN  Assembly  June 21, 2018 Amended IN  Senate  May 25, 2018 Amended IN  Senate  April 26, 2018 Amended IN  Senate  March 14, 2018 CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20172018 REGULAR SESSION Senate Bill No. 1001Introduced by Senator HertzbergFebruary 05, 2018 An act to add Chapter 6 (commencing with Section 17940) to Part 3 of Division 7 of the Business and Professions Code, relating to bots.LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGESTSB 1001, as amended, Hertzberg. Bots: disclosure.Existing law regulates various businesses to, among other things, preserve and regulate competition, prohibit unfair trade practices, and regulate advertising.This bill would would, with certain exceptions, make it unlawful for any person to use a bot, as defined, to communicate or interact with natural persons another person in California online with the intention of misleading and would provide that a person using a bot is presumed to not act with the intent to mislead if the person discloses that the bot is not a natural person. The bill would require an online platform to enable users to report violations of this prohibition, and would require the online platform to respond to the reports and, upon request, provide the Attorney General with specified related information. intent to mislead the other person about its artificial identity for the purpose of knowingly deceiving the person about the content of the communication in order to incentivize a purchase or sale of goods or services in a commercial transaction or to influence a vote in an election.Digest Key Vote: MAJORITY  Appropriation: NO  Fiscal Committee: YES  Local Program: NO 

 Amended IN  Assembly  June 21, 2018 Amended IN  Senate  May 25, 2018 Amended IN  Senate  April 26, 2018 Amended IN  Senate  March 14, 2018

Amended IN  Assembly  June 21, 2018
Amended IN  Senate  May 25, 2018
Amended IN  Senate  April 26, 2018
Amended IN  Senate  March 14, 2018

 CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20172018 REGULAR SESSION

Senate Bill No. 1001

Introduced by Senator HertzbergFebruary 05, 2018

Introduced by Senator Hertzberg
February 05, 2018

 An act to add Chapter 6 (commencing with Section 17940) to Part 3 of Division 7 of the Business and Professions Code, relating to bots.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

## LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

SB 1001, as amended, Hertzberg. Bots: disclosure.

Existing law regulates various businesses to, among other things, preserve and regulate competition, prohibit unfair trade practices, and regulate advertising.This bill would would, with certain exceptions, make it unlawful for any person to use a bot, as defined, to communicate or interact with natural persons another person in California online with the intention of misleading and would provide that a person using a bot is presumed to not act with the intent to mislead if the person discloses that the bot is not a natural person. The bill would require an online platform to enable users to report violations of this prohibition, and would require the online platform to respond to the reports and, upon request, provide the Attorney General with specified related information. intent to mislead the other person about its artificial identity for the purpose of knowingly deceiving the person about the content of the communication in order to incentivize a purchase or sale of goods or services in a commercial transaction or to influence a vote in an election.

Existing law regulates various businesses to, among other things, preserve and regulate competition, prohibit unfair trade practices, and regulate advertising.

This bill would would, with certain exceptions, make it unlawful for any person to use a bot, as defined, to communicate or interact with natural persons another person in California online with the intention of misleading and would provide that a person using a bot is presumed to not act with the intent to mislead if the person discloses that the bot is not a natural person. The bill would require an online platform to enable users to report violations of this prohibition, and would require the online platform to respond to the reports and, upon request, provide the Attorney General with specified related information. intent to mislead the other person about its artificial identity for the purpose of knowingly deceiving the person about the content of the communication in order to incentivize a purchase or sale of goods or services in a commercial transaction or to influence a vote in an election.

## Digest Key

## Bill Text

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:SECTION 1. Chapter 6 (commencing with Section 17940) is added to Part 3 of Division 7 of the Business and Professions Code, to read: CHAPTER 6. Bots17940. For purposes of this chapter:(a) Bot means an online account that is automated online account on an online platform that is designed to mimic or behave like the account of a natural person.(b) Online means appearing on any public-facing Internet Web site, Web application, or digital application, including a social network or publication.(c) Online platform means any public-facing Internet Web site, Web application, or digital application, including a social network or publication.(d) Person means a natural person, corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, association, estate, trust, government, governmental subdivision or agency, or other legal entity or any combination thereof.17941. (a) It shall be unlawful for any person to use a bot to communicate or interact with natural persons another person in California online, with the intention of misleading a natural person about its artificial identity. A person using a bot is presumed to not act with the intent to mislead if the person discloses that the bot is not a natural person. intent to mislead the other person about its artificial identity for the purpose of knowingly deceiving the person about the content of the communication in order to incentivize a purchase or sale of goods or services in a commercial transaction or to influence a vote in an election. A person using a bot shall not be liable under this section if the person discloses that it is a bot.(b)The disclosure required by this chapter shall be clear and conspicuous to all natural persons with whom the bot communicates or interacts.(c)A statement shall be considered a disclosure that a bot is not a person if it includes language stating the bot is a bot or is auto-generated. (b) The disclosure required by this section shall be clear, conspicuous, and reasonably designed to inform persons with whom the bot communicates or interacts that it is a bot.17942.(a)An online platform shall enable users to identify and report bots that the user suspects of violating Section 17941.(b)(1)After receiving notice of a bot pursuant to subdivision (a), an online platform shall expeditiously investigate and determine whether or not to disclose that the bot is not a natural person or remove the bot.(2)An online platforms investigation and response shall be expeditious if it occurs within 72 hours of receipt of the notice.(c)Upon request of the Attorney General, an online platform shall provide reports detailing notices received pursuant to subdivision (b) and actions taken in response.17943.(a)(1)For text and graphic communications, a statement shall be considered to be made in a clear and conspicuous manner if it is made in larger type than the surrounding text, is in a contrasting type, font, or color to the surrounding text of the same size, or is set off from the surrounding text of the same size by symbols or other marks in a manner that clearly calls attention to the language.(2)For audio communications, a statement shall be considered to be made in a clear and conspicuous manner if it is spoken in a clearly audible and intelligible manner at the beginning of the communication.(3)For video communications, a statement shall be considered to be made in a clear and conspicuous manner if it is in a written format that meets the requirements of paragraph (1) and appears for at least four seconds and in an audible format that meets the requirements of paragraph (2).(4)For any other communications, a statement shall be considered to be made in a clear and conspicuous manner if it is made in a manner that is at least as clear and conspicuous as described in paragraphs (1) to (3), inclusive.(b)A statement is not made in a clear and conspicuous manner if it is difficult to read or hear or if the placement is easily overlooked.17944. 17942. (a) The duties and obligations imposed by this chapter are cumulative with any other duties or obligation imposed by any other law.(b) The provisions of this chapter are severable. If any provision of this chapter or its application is held invalid, that invalidity shall not affect other provisions or applications that can be given effect without the invalid provision or application.(c)The duties and obligations imposed by this chapter shall not apply to bots to the extent they are communicating on behalf of a corporation, limited partnership, limited liability company, or other form of business entity, with users or customers of that business, and the user or customer has specifically opted in to such communications after clear and conspicuous disclosure about their automated nature. (d)(c) This section chapter does not impose a duty on service providers of online platforms, including, but not limited to, Web hosting and Internet service providers.

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

## The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1. Chapter 6 (commencing with Section 17940) is added to Part 3 of Division 7 of the Business and Professions Code, to read: CHAPTER 6. Bots17940. For purposes of this chapter:(a) Bot means an online account that is automated online account on an online platform that is designed to mimic or behave like the account of a natural person.(b) Online means appearing on any public-facing Internet Web site, Web application, or digital application, including a social network or publication.(c) Online platform means any public-facing Internet Web site, Web application, or digital application, including a social network or publication.(d) Person means a natural person, corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, association, estate, trust, government, governmental subdivision or agency, or other legal entity or any combination thereof.17941. (a) It shall be unlawful for any person to use a bot to communicate or interact with natural persons another person in California online, with the intention of misleading a natural person about its artificial identity. A person using a bot is presumed to not act with the intent to mislead if the person discloses that the bot is not a natural person. intent to mislead the other person about its artificial identity for the purpose of knowingly deceiving the person about the content of the communication in order to incentivize a purchase or sale of goods or services in a commercial transaction or to influence a vote in an election. A person using a bot shall not be liable under this section if the person discloses that it is a bot.(b)The disclosure required by this chapter shall be clear and conspicuous to all natural persons with whom the bot communicates or interacts.(c)A statement shall be considered a disclosure that a bot is not a person if it includes language stating the bot is a bot or is auto-generated. (b) The disclosure required by this section shall be clear, conspicuous, and reasonably designed to inform persons with whom the bot communicates or interacts that it is a bot.17942.(a)An online platform shall enable users to identify and report bots that the user suspects of violating Section 17941.(b)(1)After receiving notice of a bot pursuant to subdivision (a), an online platform shall expeditiously investigate and determine whether or not to disclose that the bot is not a natural person or remove the bot.(2)An online platforms investigation and response shall be expeditious if it occurs within 72 hours of receipt of the notice.(c)Upon request of the Attorney General, an online platform shall provide reports detailing notices received pursuant to subdivision (b) and actions taken in response.17943.(a)(1)For text and graphic communications, a statement shall be considered to be made in a clear and conspicuous manner if it is made in larger type than the surrounding text, is in a contrasting type, font, or color to the surrounding text of the same size, or is set off from the surrounding text of the same size by symbols or other marks in a manner that clearly calls attention to the language.(2)For audio communications, a statement shall be considered to be made in a clear and conspicuous manner if it is spoken in a clearly audible and intelligible manner at the beginning of the communication.(3)For video communications, a statement shall be considered to be made in a clear and conspicuous manner if it is in a written format that meets the requirements of paragraph (1) and appears for at least four seconds and in an audible format that meets the requirements of paragraph (2).(4)For any other communications, a statement shall be considered to be made in a clear and conspicuous manner if it is made in a manner that is at least as clear and conspicuous as described in paragraphs (1) to (3), inclusive.(b)A statement is not made in a clear and conspicuous manner if it is difficult to read or hear or if the placement is easily overlooked.17944. 17942. (a) The duties and obligations imposed by this chapter are cumulative with any other duties or obligation imposed by any other law.(b) The provisions of this chapter are severable. If any provision of this chapter or its application is held invalid, that invalidity shall not affect other provisions or applications that can be given effect without the invalid provision or application.(c)The duties and obligations imposed by this chapter shall not apply to bots to the extent they are communicating on behalf of a corporation, limited partnership, limited liability company, or other form of business entity, with users or customers of that business, and the user or customer has specifically opted in to such communications after clear and conspicuous disclosure about their automated nature. (d)(c) This section chapter does not impose a duty on service providers of online platforms, including, but not limited to, Web hosting and Internet service providers.

SECTION 1. Chapter 6 (commencing with Section 17940) is added to Part 3 of Division 7 of the Business and Professions Code, to read:

### SECTION 1.

 CHAPTER 6. Bots17940. For purposes of this chapter:(a) Bot means an online account that is automated online account on an online platform that is designed to mimic or behave like the account of a natural person.(b) Online means appearing on any public-facing Internet Web site, Web application, or digital application, including a social network or publication.(c) Online platform means any public-facing Internet Web site, Web application, or digital application, including a social network or publication.(d) Person means a natural person, corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, association, estate, trust, government, governmental subdivision or agency, or other legal entity or any combination thereof.17941. (a) It shall be unlawful for any person to use a bot to communicate or interact with natural persons another person in California online, with the intention of misleading a natural person about its artificial identity. A person using a bot is presumed to not act with the intent to mislead if the person discloses that the bot is not a natural person. intent to mislead the other person about its artificial identity for the purpose of knowingly deceiving the person about the content of the communication in order to incentivize a purchase or sale of goods or services in a commercial transaction or to influence a vote in an election. A person using a bot shall not be liable under this section if the person discloses that it is a bot.(b)The disclosure required by this chapter shall be clear and conspicuous to all natural persons with whom the bot communicates or interacts.(c)A statement shall be considered a disclosure that a bot is not a person if it includes language stating the bot is a bot or is auto-generated. (b) The disclosure required by this section shall be clear, conspicuous, and reasonably designed to inform persons with whom the bot communicates or interacts that it is a bot.17942.(a)An online platform shall enable users to identify and report bots that the user suspects of violating Section 17941.(b)(1)After receiving notice of a bot pursuant to subdivision (a), an online platform shall expeditiously investigate and determine whether or not to disclose that the bot is not a natural person or remove the bot.(2)An online platforms investigation and response shall be expeditious if it occurs within 72 hours of receipt of the notice.(c)Upon request of the Attorney General, an online platform shall provide reports detailing notices received pursuant to subdivision (b) and actions taken in response.17943.(a)(1)For text and graphic communications, a statement shall be considered to be made in a clear and conspicuous manner if it is made in larger type than the surrounding text, is in a contrasting type, font, or color to the surrounding text of the same size, or is set off from the surrounding text of the same size by symbols or other marks in a manner that clearly calls attention to the language.(2)For audio communications, a statement shall be considered to be made in a clear and conspicuous manner if it is spoken in a clearly audible and intelligible manner at the beginning of the communication.(3)For video communications, a statement shall be considered to be made in a clear and conspicuous manner if it is in a written format that meets the requirements of paragraph (1) and appears for at least four seconds and in an audible format that meets the requirements of paragraph (2).(4)For any other communications, a statement shall be considered to be made in a clear and conspicuous manner if it is made in a manner that is at least as clear and conspicuous as described in paragraphs (1) to (3), inclusive.(b)A statement is not made in a clear and conspicuous manner if it is difficult to read or hear or if the placement is easily overlooked.17944. 17942. (a) The duties and obligations imposed by this chapter are cumulative with any other duties or obligation imposed by any other law.(b) The provisions of this chapter are severable. If any provision of this chapter or its application is held invalid, that invalidity shall not affect other provisions or applications that can be given effect without the invalid provision or application.(c)The duties and obligations imposed by this chapter shall not apply to bots to the extent they are communicating on behalf of a corporation, limited partnership, limited liability company, or other form of business entity, with users or customers of that business, and the user or customer has specifically opted in to such communications after clear and conspicuous disclosure about their automated nature. (d)(c) This section chapter does not impose a duty on service providers of online platforms, including, but not limited to, Web hosting and Internet service providers.

 CHAPTER 6. Bots17940. For purposes of this chapter:(a) Bot means an online account that is automated online account on an online platform that is designed to mimic or behave like the account of a natural person.(b) Online means appearing on any public-facing Internet Web site, Web application, or digital application, including a social network or publication.(c) Online platform means any public-facing Internet Web site, Web application, or digital application, including a social network or publication.(d) Person means a natural person, corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, association, estate, trust, government, governmental subdivision or agency, or other legal entity or any combination thereof.17941. (a) It shall be unlawful for any person to use a bot to communicate or interact with natural persons another person in California online, with the intention of misleading a natural person about its artificial identity. A person using a bot is presumed to not act with the intent to mislead if the person discloses that the bot is not a natural person. intent to mislead the other person about its artificial identity for the purpose of knowingly deceiving the person about the content of the communication in order to incentivize a purchase or sale of goods or services in a commercial transaction or to influence a vote in an election. A person using a bot shall not be liable under this section if the person discloses that it is a bot.(b)The disclosure required by this chapter shall be clear and conspicuous to all natural persons with whom the bot communicates or interacts.(c)A statement shall be considered a disclosure that a bot is not a person if it includes language stating the bot is a bot or is auto-generated. (b) The disclosure required by this section shall be clear, conspicuous, and reasonably designed to inform persons with whom the bot communicates or interacts that it is a bot.17942.(a)An online platform shall enable users to identify and report bots that the user suspects of violating Section 17941.(b)(1)After receiving notice of a bot pursuant to subdivision (a), an online platform shall expeditiously investigate and determine whether or not to disclose that the bot is not a natural person or remove the bot.(2)An online platforms investigation and response shall be expeditious if it occurs within 72 hours of receipt of the notice.(c)Upon request of the Attorney General, an online platform shall provide reports detailing notices received pursuant to subdivision (b) and actions taken in response.17943.(a)(1)For text and graphic communications, a statement shall be considered to be made in a clear and conspicuous manner if it is made in larger type than the surrounding text, is in a contrasting type, font, or color to the surrounding text of the same size, or is set off from the surrounding text of the same size by symbols or other marks in a manner that clearly calls attention to the language.(2)For audio communications, a statement shall be considered to be made in a clear and conspicuous manner if it is spoken in a clearly audible and intelligible manner at the beginning of the communication.(3)For video communications, a statement shall be considered to be made in a clear and conspicuous manner if it is in a written format that meets the requirements of paragraph (1) and appears for at least four seconds and in an audible format that meets the requirements of paragraph (2).(4)For any other communications, a statement shall be considered to be made in a clear and conspicuous manner if it is made in a manner that is at least as clear and conspicuous as described in paragraphs (1) to (3), inclusive.(b)A statement is not made in a clear and conspicuous manner if it is difficult to read or hear or if the placement is easily overlooked.17944. 17942. (a) The duties and obligations imposed by this chapter are cumulative with any other duties or obligation imposed by any other law.(b) The provisions of this chapter are severable. If any provision of this chapter or its application is held invalid, that invalidity shall not affect other provisions or applications that can be given effect without the invalid provision or application.(c)The duties and obligations imposed by this chapter shall not apply to bots to the extent they are communicating on behalf of a corporation, limited partnership, limited liability company, or other form of business entity, with users or customers of that business, and the user or customer has specifically opted in to such communications after clear and conspicuous disclosure about their automated nature. (d)(c) This section chapter does not impose a duty on service providers of online platforms, including, but not limited to, Web hosting and Internet service providers.

 CHAPTER 6. Bots

 CHAPTER 6. Bots

17940. For purposes of this chapter:(a) Bot means an online account that is automated online account on an online platform that is designed to mimic or behave like the account of a natural person.(b) Online means appearing on any public-facing Internet Web site, Web application, or digital application, including a social network or publication.(c) Online platform means any public-facing Internet Web site, Web application, or digital application, including a social network or publication.(d) Person means a natural person, corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, association, estate, trust, government, governmental subdivision or agency, or other legal entity or any combination thereof.



17940. For purposes of this chapter:

(a) Bot means an online account that is automated online account on an online platform that is designed to mimic or behave like the account of a natural person.

(b) Online means appearing on any public-facing Internet Web site, Web application, or digital application, including a social network or publication.

(c) Online platform means any public-facing Internet Web site, Web application, or digital application, including a social network or publication.

(d) Person means a natural person, corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, association, estate, trust, government, governmental subdivision or agency, or other legal entity or any combination thereof.

17941. (a) It shall be unlawful for any person to use a bot to communicate or interact with natural persons another person in California online, with the intention of misleading a natural person about its artificial identity. A person using a bot is presumed to not act with the intent to mislead if the person discloses that the bot is not a natural person. intent to mislead the other person about its artificial identity for the purpose of knowingly deceiving the person about the content of the communication in order to incentivize a purchase or sale of goods or services in a commercial transaction or to influence a vote in an election. A person using a bot shall not be liable under this section if the person discloses that it is a bot.(b)The disclosure required by this chapter shall be clear and conspicuous to all natural persons with whom the bot communicates or interacts.(c)A statement shall be considered a disclosure that a bot is not a person if it includes language stating the bot is a bot or is auto-generated. (b) The disclosure required by this section shall be clear, conspicuous, and reasonably designed to inform persons with whom the bot communicates or interacts that it is a bot.



17941. (a) It shall be unlawful for any person to use a bot to communicate or interact with natural persons another person in California online, with the intention of misleading a natural person about its artificial identity. A person using a bot is presumed to not act with the intent to mislead if the person discloses that the bot is not a natural person. intent to mislead the other person about its artificial identity for the purpose of knowingly deceiving the person about the content of the communication in order to incentivize a purchase or sale of goods or services in a commercial transaction or to influence a vote in an election. A person using a bot shall not be liable under this section if the person discloses that it is a bot.

(b)The disclosure required by this chapter shall be clear and conspicuous to all natural persons with whom the bot communicates or interacts.



(c)A statement shall be considered a disclosure that a bot is not a person if it includes language stating the bot is a bot or is auto-generated. 



(b) The disclosure required by this section shall be clear, conspicuous, and reasonably designed to inform persons with whom the bot communicates or interacts that it is a bot.



(a)An online platform shall enable users to identify and report bots that the user suspects of violating Section 17941.



(b)(1)After receiving notice of a bot pursuant to subdivision (a), an online platform shall expeditiously investigate and determine whether or not to disclose that the bot is not a natural person or remove the bot.



(2)An online platforms investigation and response shall be expeditious if it occurs within 72 hours of receipt of the notice.



(c)Upon request of the Attorney General, an online platform shall provide reports detailing notices received pursuant to subdivision (b) and actions taken in response.





(a)(1)For text and graphic communications, a statement shall be considered to be made in a clear and conspicuous manner if it is made in larger type than the surrounding text, is in a contrasting type, font, or color to the surrounding text of the same size, or is set off from the surrounding text of the same size by symbols or other marks in a manner that clearly calls attention to the language.



(2)For audio communications, a statement shall be considered to be made in a clear and conspicuous manner if it is spoken in a clearly audible and intelligible manner at the beginning of the communication.



(3)For video communications, a statement shall be considered to be made in a clear and conspicuous manner if it is in a written format that meets the requirements of paragraph (1) and appears for at least four seconds and in an audible format that meets the requirements of paragraph (2).



(4)For any other communications, a statement shall be considered to be made in a clear and conspicuous manner if it is made in a manner that is at least as clear and conspicuous as described in paragraphs (1) to (3), inclusive.



(b)A statement is not made in a clear and conspicuous manner if it is difficult to read or hear or if the placement is easily overlooked.



17944. 17942. (a) The duties and obligations imposed by this chapter are cumulative with any other duties or obligation imposed by any other law.(b) The provisions of this chapter are severable. If any provision of this chapter or its application is held invalid, that invalidity shall not affect other provisions or applications that can be given effect without the invalid provision or application.(c)The duties and obligations imposed by this chapter shall not apply to bots to the extent they are communicating on behalf of a corporation, limited partnership, limited liability company, or other form of business entity, with users or customers of that business, and the user or customer has specifically opted in to such communications after clear and conspicuous disclosure about their automated nature. (d)(c) This section chapter does not impose a duty on service providers of online platforms, including, but not limited to, Web hosting and Internet service providers.



17944. 17942. (a) The duties and obligations imposed by this chapter are cumulative with any other duties or obligation imposed by any other law.

(b) The provisions of this chapter are severable. If any provision of this chapter or its application is held invalid, that invalidity shall not affect other provisions or applications that can be given effect without the invalid provision or application.

(c)The duties and obligations imposed by this chapter shall not apply to bots to the extent they are communicating on behalf of a corporation, limited partnership, limited liability company, or other form of business entity, with users or customers of that business, and the user or customer has specifically opted in to such communications after clear and conspicuous disclosure about their automated nature.



(d)



(c) This section chapter does not impose a duty on service providers of online platforms, including, but not limited to, Web hosting and Internet service providers.