New York bans unsafe chatbot features for children under 18

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 28 Oct, 22:20 · Archive

New York has enacted restrictions on chatbot behaviour when interacting with children under 18, with penalties including fines and data destruction.

New York Governor Kathy Hochul has signed legislation banning chatbot features deemed unsafe for children under 18. The law outlines a dozen definitions of prohibited 'unsafe AI companion features' and takes effect on 1 January. Violations could expose chatbot developers to lawsuits by the state attorney general's office, with penalties including monetary damages, shutting down the chatbot and destroying data.

The legislation reflects growing concerns about artificial intelligence's rapid development and its risks to children. Hochul signed the bill amid warnings about existential risks posed by AI technology and calls for stronger regulation. With Congress taking little action on AI regulation, state legislatures are increasingly using consumer protection laws to make AI use more transparent and restrict chatbot behaviour.

New York and California are leading state efforts to regulate AI and protect children online. In September, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed legislation requiring chatbot developers to assess risks to children, demonstrate how they addressed those risks and submit to independent audits. California also prohibited social media platforms from deploying addictive features to users under 16.

How it is being reported

• New York enacts ban on 'unsafe' chatbot behavior with kids as states push AI regulation boundariesNew York is enacting farther-reaching restrictions ban on certain chatbot behaviors to protect children using artificial intelligence.Clickorlando · 28 Oct, 22:00
• New York enacts ban on 'unsafe' chatbot behavior with kids as states push AI regulation boundariesNew York is enacting farther-reaching restrictions ban on certain chatbot behaviors to protect children using artificial intelligence.News4Jax · 28 Oct, 22:00

In this story: New York · Kathy Hochul · California · Gavin Newsom · Congress

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem · Corrections log