In brief
New York Governor Kathy Hochul signed legislation on Wednesday that bars companies from offering AI chatbots to minors features that could mislead or harm them. The bill imposes up to $25,000 civil penalties and creates a website for lodging complaints. The law follows similar California measures that require child‑safety audits of chatbots.
In Albany, New York State Governor Kathy Hochul signed a law this week that limits what artificial‑intelligence chatbots can do for people under 18, according to the governor's office and the state’s press release. The legislation is directed at protecting minors from a range of digital interactions that could be manipulative or harmful.
Under the new rule, companies must not offer chatbots that can pretend to be human, build emotional dependency, encourage self‑harm or engage in sexually explicit conversations with users below 18. The law also bars offering other content that could be exploitative toward young users.
Governor Kathy Hochul explained at the signing ceremony:
No longer will minors have access to chatbots that pretend to be their friends, boyfriends and girlfriends.
Violations of the new law can trigger a civil fine of up to $25,000, the state’s attorney general could seek, and a public website has been created where New Yorkers can file complaints about potential violations.
New York joins a growing list of U.S. states that have implemented similar safeguards. Governor Gavin Newsom of California signed a bill earlier this year that requires chatbot developers to conduct annual child‑safety risk assessments and submit their products to independent audits, and to ban addictive features for users under 16.
Beyond the restrictions already listed, the bill also prohibits chatbots from providing advice about drug or alcohol use, eating disorders and other sensitive health topics, as described in a recent article on Mashable. The expansion aims to narrow the circumstances in which minors can receive potentially harmful guidance from AI.
Industry observers say the law will require significant changes to how developers design and disclose chatbot functionality, and state regulators will need to monitor compliance. Chatbot companies may seek to clarify whether features that mimic human interaction but are algorithmically transparent qualify as the prohibited “pretending” behavior.
The new regulations signal a tightening of digital child protection on the East Coast, and state officials plan to begin enforcement next year after the law’s effective date. Supporters view the measure as a proactive step, while critics warn it may be difficult to define and police effectively in a rapidly evolving AI landscape.
Big tech firms that currently run open‑access chatbots will need to update user terms, add age verification, and limit or disable the forbidden features for minors. Parents and educators are calling for clearer labeling and more robust age‑checks, citing concerns over online secrecy and lack of parental oversight.
