Politics · United States · 5 hrs ago
New York bans unsafe chatbot features for users under 18
New York Gov.
Kathy Hochul signed a law restricting chatbot interactions with people under 18.
It bans features such as chatbots pretending to be real people, encouraging secrecy, using flattery, or discussing sexual content with minors.
The law also targets chatbot messages promoting self-harm, suicide, drug or alcohol use, or eating disorders.
The restrictions take effect Jan.
1, and companies must check users’ ages.
Violations could lead to civil penalties of up to $25,000 per instance, and the state attorney general’s office could sue developers.
The law comes as states act while federal AI regulation remains limited, with California also introducing child-safety requirements for chatbots.
New York’s rules may influence other states, though some terms are broadly worded and could make enforcement difficult.
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul signed a law banning specified chatbot features when chatbots interact with users under 18.
The law prohibits behaviors including pretending to be a real person, encouraging secrecy, and discussing sexually explicit material with minors.
It also bars chatbots from promoting or advising on self-harm, suicide, eating disorders, or drug and alcohol use.
The law takes effect Jan. 1 and allows enforcement against developers, though the articles describe penalties differently.
The law requires covered companies to verify users’ ages using more than one method, including one that does not rely solely on government identification.
- Who
- New York Gov. Kathy Hochul signed the law. It applies to chatbot developers and users under 18.
- What
- The law bans specified chatbot features and behavior when interacting with minors.
- When
- Hochul signed it Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2026. It takes effect Jan. 1.
- Where
- New York.
- Why
- The law aims to reduce risks to children and teens from chatbot interactions.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Gov. Kathy Hochul signed the chatbot safety bill into law.
The law is scheduled to take effect.
- Age covered
- Under 18
- Effective date
- Jan. 1
- Age verification
- More than one method, including one not based solely on government identification
- Mashable-reported penalty
- Civil penalty up to $25,000 for each instance
- Enforcement measures reported by AP
- Lawsuits by the state attorney general’s office; penalties could include monetary damages, shutting down a chatbot, and destroying data
2 sources
What people are saying
No company should be peddling chatbots to kids encouraging self-harm or pretending to be their friend or more.
the strongest kids’ AI safety bill in the country
where ordinary conversational responsiveness ends and prohibited behavior begins
The loss of our son did not need to happen.