New York governor signs AI chatbot child safety law
A separate law aims to shore up security on connected baby monitors.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul has signed a new law aimed at safeguarding children from the potential harms of AI chatbots. The legislation mandates that AI companies verify users' ages, offering at least one verification method that relies less on government identification. Companies must delete any age information once it's no longer needed.
For minors under 18, chatbots must adhere to restrictions such as not pretending to be a real person, alive, or having human emotions. They also can't engage in personal, romantic, professional, or authority-figure relationships with children, ask unprovoked emotional questions, or use personal health or private information.
The law prohibits chatbots from promoting or assisting with suicide, self-harm, eating disorders, or substance abuse. It also forbids encouraging secrecy, isolation, or avoidance of parental or professional help, and bans any sexually explicit content or child sexual abuse material. Violating these provisions could result in civil penalties of up to $25,000 per violation, as well as additional damages and relief.
This new law, sponsored by Senator Gonzalez and Assemblymember Bores, prohibits minors from interacting with chatbots that act like their friends or romantic interests, keep sensitive health information, or encourage suicidal thoughts. It builds upon New York's Safe for Kids Act, which held technology companies accountable for not prioritizing the mental health of children and teenagers.
New York has now passed the most comprehensive AI safety bill for kids in the entire country, according to Jim Steyer, founder and CEO of Common Sense Media. The legislation serves as a model for other U.S. states, and earlier this month, eight states filed lawsuits against OpenAI, accusing the company of endangering children. Additionally, New York City recently banned public schools from allowing children aged 2-K to eighth grade to use generative AI tools in classrooms, with exceptions for those requiring assistive technology.
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