Michaela
Senators Josh Hawley and Richard Blumenthal have announced bipartisan legislation targeting tech companies that offer AI chatbots to minors, proposing strict age-verification measures after parents have raised concerns that such products have exposed children to sexual content and self-harm risks.
Key points:
- Senators Hawley and Blumenthal have introduced bipartisan legislation to ban AI chatbots for minors, enforce strict age verification, and address risks of sexual content and self-harm.
- The bill requires AI companions to disclose their nonhuman status, imposes criminal penalties for promoting sexual activity or suicide among minors, and builds on California’s recent AI safety laws.
- Critics argue the age-verification mandate may be invasive and could limit free expression online, despite the bill’s child-protection goals.
The proposed legislation comes after a congressional hearing last month where parents shared emotional accounts of their children’s interactions with AI chatbots, urging stronger protections. Hawley told NBC News that AI chatbots represent a serious risk to minors, noting that over 70 percent of American children are now engaging with these AI products.
“Chatbots develop relationships with kids using fake empathy and are encouraging suicide. We in Congress have a moral duty to enact bright-line rules to prevent further harm from this new technology,” Hawley stated.
A summary from the senators’ offices outlines that the bill would require AI companies to implement strict age-verification measures and prohibit the provision of AI chatbots to minors. It also mandates that AI companions regularly disclose their nonhuman nature and the absence of professional credentials to all users.
Earlier this month, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed landmark legislation requiring developers of AI companion chatbots to ensure users are clearly informed they are interacting with artificial intelligence rather than a human.
Senate Bill 243 also aims to protect children online and regulate emerging technologies, introducing measures such as age verification, protocols for self-harm and suicide prevention, warnings for social media and AI chatbots, and enhanced penalties for profiting from illegal deepfakes.
Furthermore, the Senators’ proposed legislation would also impose criminal penalties on AI companies that create, distribute, or operate AI companions that solicit sexual activity from minors or promote self-harm and suicide.
“In their race to the bottom, AI companies are pushing treacherous chatbots at kids and looking away when their products cause sexual abuse, or coerce them into self-harm or suicide,” Blumenthal said in a statement. “Big Tech has betrayed any claim that we should trust companies to do the right thing on their own when they consistently put profit first ahead of child safety,” he added.
Despite its child-protection aims, the bill has faced criticism, with some arguing that mandatory age-verification measures could be invasive and hinder online free expression.
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Michaela has no crypto positions and does not hold any crypto assets. This article is provided for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial advice. The Shib Magazine and The Shib Daily are the official media and publications of the Shiba Inu cryptocurrency project. Readers are encouraged to conduct their own research and consult with a qualified financial adviser before making any investment decisions.
