Angela Li, a junior in high school and Policy & Advocacy Committee Member of the National AI Youth Council, recently testified before the California State Assembly Standing Committee on Privacy and Consumer Protection in strong support of AB 410, a bill that updates and strengthens the state’s bot disclosure laws.
AB 410, authored by Assemblymember Lori D. Wilson, is a response to the growing influence of generative AI in our online spaces. The bill expands California’s original bot law to reflect today’s digital reality, where bots powered by generative AI can easily mimic human behavior. AB 410 would require bots to clearly disclose that they are not human before interacting with someone online. It also prohibits bots from misleading people about their identity and allows people to ask and receive truthful answers about whether they’re speaking with a bot.
Angela testified in front of lawmakers to make sure that young people’s experiences were heard loud and clear:
“Nearly half of global internet traffic today is driven by bots… students like me and my peers interact with AI daily, often without even realizing it.” – Angela Li, National AI Youth Council
Angela also shared a real story about a friend who was researching financial aid for college and unknowingly trusted a chatbot that gave incomplete and misleading advice. Her friend missed an important deadline, one that impacted her future:
“Had she known it was a bot, she could have verified the details. But she didn’t, and it cost her real opportunities.”
Angela made it clear that this isn’t about banning AI. It’s about giving people a fair shot at making informed choices online. Students, she argued, shouldn’t have to question whether the information they’re receiving comes from a person or a machine.
With a final vote of 12–1, the bill passed out of committee, marking a major win for transparency and safety in online interactions. Angela also had the chance to meet Assemblymember Wilson, calling it an honor after months of collaboration on the bill.
Through her testimony, Angela reminded legislators that AI policy isn’t just technical but. personal as well. One thing is for sure. Young people are no longer just using these technologies, they’re actively shaping them as well.
National AI Youth Council 