On August 31, California Business and Consumer Services Agency (BCSA) Secretary Rohit Chopra announced that examining businesses’ use of emerging technologies will be a priority for the newly formed agency. According to Chopra, the BCSA will evaluate how businesses use technologies, including chatbots, software, and other automated tools, to determine whether those practices harm consumers or undermine existing licensing and consumer protection requirements.
The BCSA launched on July 1 and consolidates numerous California boards, bureaus, and departments responsible for licensing, enforcement, and consumer protection. Its oversight includes the Department of Financial Protection and Innovation (DFPI), along with agencies regulating real estate and other professional and commercial activities. The announcement does not establish new legal requirements, but it provides an early indication of how the BCSA may approach technology-related supervision and enforcement.