California AB 1883 — Workplace Surveillance Tools

SUMMARY

AB 1883 prohibits an employer from using an AI-enabled workplace surveillance tool on employees to recognize or infer emotional state or collect defined neural data.

WHY IT MATTERS

The prohibition is targeted; the law does not broadly ban facial recognition, biometrics, productivity monitoring, behavioral monitoring, or workplace surveillance generally.

KEY REQUIREMENTS

• Do not use an AI-enabled workplace surveillance tool on employees to recognize, infer, or predict an individual's emotional state.
• Do not use such a tool to collect neural data as defined by the statute.

COVERAGE

Employers: Private and public employers within the statute's definition, including specified governmental entities, labor contractors, and entities contracting for labor or services.

Workers: Employees; the operative prohibition is not expressly extended to applicants or independent contractors.

Exceptions: The statute does not prohibit safety uses or other uses that do not perform either prohibited function.

Exceptions: A narrow federal-compliance exception applies to specified aircraft, national-security, military, space, and defense operations.

ENFORCEMENT & PENALTIES

California Labor Commissioner and public prosecutors, with the remedies specified in Labor Code section 1582.

Up to $500 for each violation, subject to the statute's rule against both statutory and civil penalties for the same violation.

CHANGE HISTORY

1. 2026-09-30
   signed

   Governor signed AB 1883 with a signing message

   The Governor signed the targeted workplace-surveillance measure and asked the Legislature to clarify ambiguities and missing definitions.

2. 2026-09-30
   verification update

   Record re-verified

   Official source links, status, and key dates were checked for this maintenance release.

3. 2026-09-10
   passed legislature

   AB 1883 presented to the Governor

   The enrolled measure was presented after final legislative passage.

TOPICS

PRIMARY SOURCES