california has banned bots that pretend to be human. under a newly signed bill, these bots will need to disclose their nature, making it clear to the user that they’re conversing with a machine rather than a human. 

 

according to a bill signed on friday by democratic gov. jerry brown, automated accounts, more commonly called ‘bots’, will need to disclose to customers that they’re not real humans, according to reporting from PC magazine. the bill is part of a move that will help users avoid falling victim to automated messages selling goods or services in a commercial transaction or to influence a vote in an election.

 

the bill stipulates that bots cannot interact with humans in efforts to ‘incentivize a purchase or sale of goods or services in a commercial transaction or to influence a vote in an election.’ the bill was approved on september 28 and will go into effect on july 1, 2019.