Published January 1, 2026, The Verge’s “Meet the new tech laws of 2026” is a practical roundup of state tech and internet laws taking effect throughout 2026, emphasizing that US tech policy is increasingly being shaped by a state-by-state patchwork rather than a single federal framework. The article organizes what’s changing by state and timing, and it flags where laws are already in force versus where they’re delayed or tied up in litigation—useful context for organizations trying to plan compliance and product updates across multiple markets.
A major focus is California’s new AI measures, including a large-model transparency law that pushes companies toward public-facing disclosure and internal accountability, as well as new requirements for AI “companion chatbots.” Those chatbot rules include specific expectations around suicide/self-harm safeguards and repeated reminders to minors that they’re interacting with AI rather than a person—an especially relevant signal for behavioral health and mental-health-adjacent tools.
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