AB 1883: Employers Can't Use AI to Read Employees' Emotions or Collect Neural Data From 2027

What changed

AB 1883 (Chapter 853, Statutes of 2026) bars employers from using an AI-powered workplace surveillance tool on employees to recognize or predict their emotional state, or to collect neural data. Tools used for safety, or that do neither, remain allowed, and some aerospace and defense work is exempt. The Labor Commissioner and public prosecutors can enforce it, with a penalty of up to $500 per violation. It takes effect January 1, 2027.

Who it applies to

California employers, including state and local government, the University of California and charter cities, that use AI-based workplace surveillance tools.

Key dates

Effective date:

January 1, 2027

Prohibition on AI workplace surveillance tools collecting neural data or emotional state recognition takes effect; violations subject to civil penalty up to $500 each.

What employers may need to do

• Stop using AI workplace surveillance tools to recognize or predict employees' emotional states, or to collect neural data, by January 1, 2027.
• Ask vendors whether monitoring, interview or productivity tools include emotion-recognition or neural-data features.

Official source

Detected by RegWatch monitoring on October 1, 2026. Always confirm details against the official source above — this page is a summary, not legal advice.

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