New York Governor signs law to protect minors from AI chatbots

New York State Governor Kathy Hochul signed a law on Wednesday to protect children from the risks associated with artificial intelligence chatbots.

The legislation targets the safety and mental health of minors by restricting how companies interact with users under the age of 18. The law prohibits companies from offering specific chatbot features to children, such as pretending to be human, creating emotional dependency, encouraging self-harm, or engaging in sexually explicit conversations.

The state will establish a public website for New Yorkers to report companies that violate these rules. The law applies to users physically located in New York, regardless of whether the company operating the chatbot is based within the state. The state attorney general can seek civil penalties of up to US$25,000 for violations. The legislation covers a wide range of products beyond those marketed as companions, including AI characters, creator replicas, roleplay tools, and general-purpose chatbots.

The tech industry group Tech:NYC criticized the law for its vague language. This measure joins other state efforts to regulate AI safety. California Governor Gavin Newsom recently signed a law requiring developers to conduct annual child safety risk assessments and submit products to independent audits. He also signed a law banning social media platforms from using addictive features for users under the age of 16.