Streaming services’ obnoxiously loud ads become illegal on July 1 in California

Starting July first, California is cracking down on streaming services that blast ads at volumes designed to jar you awake. A new state law caps ad loudness to match the programming around it—eliminating sudden spikes designed to seize your attention. Illinois passed a similar regulation, giving major platforms incentive to dial back the decibels industry-wide. According to Ars Technica, the move addresses a widespread complaint: ads that play noticeably louder than the shows they interrupt.

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