In brief
Governor Kathy Hochul signed a new law that limits features of AI chatbots available to minors, including impersonation and self‑harm encouragement, and sets civil penalties of up to $25,000. The law also establishes a website for filing complaints and follows a trend of state‑level regulations aimed at protecting children from potentially harmful AI interactions.
In New York City on Tuesday, Governor Kathy Hochul signed a law that places new limits on how artificial‑intelligence chatbots can interact with people younger than 18, according to Xinhua news. The legislation, ratified at a press conference, bars chatbot operators from offering a range of features to minors, such as pretending to be human, building emotional attachment, encouraging self‑harm or engaging in sexually explicit dialogue.
The law was presented by the governor’s office as a protective measure for children, noting that the rapid growth of conversational AI has raised safety concerns. The state’s Attorney General’s office will seek civil fines of up to $25,000 for each violation, a figure that Xinhua cited as part of the new regulatory framework.
No longer will minors have access to chatbots that pretend to be their friends, boyfriends and girlfriends, Governor Kathy Hochul said at the signing, according to a statement released by her office.
Under the new statute, companies must comply with a set of defined “unsafe AI companion features” that the law prohibits whenever a child under 18 engages with a companion‑type chatbot, as described in the Washington Post’s coverage of the bill. These include, but are not limited to, roles that simulate familial or romantic relationships, as well as content that could foster self‑harm.
The legislation establishes a public website that will allow residents of New York to file complaints against AI developers or chatbot service providers for suspected violations. Xinhua reports that the portal will be monitored by state regulators and could serve as a central hub for consumer protection.
Other American states have advanced similar measures in recent months. In California, Governor Gavin Newsom signed into law a mandate for yearly child‑safety risk assessments for chatbot developers, along with an independent audit requirement. The Washington Post noted that California also passed a law banning social media platforms from deploying addictive features for users under 16.
The law’s builders argue that a unified regulatory approach will help standardize safety protocols across the industry, an effort that in the Washington Post’s article is framed as a broader push to address emerging AI risks. Those efforts reflect a growing trend toward legislating AI behavior, particularly when it involves vulnerable populations.
As the new rules take effect, industry observers will watch how companies modify their chatbot interfaces to avoid the list of banned features and whether the penalties will influence broader AI design choices beyond New York borders. The legislation signals a decisive step by the state to keep conversational AI accountable to children’s well‑being while opening a nationwide conversation about digital ethics for the next generation.
