New York Targets AI Chatbots That Pretend to Love Children: New Law Carries $25,000 Fines
Source: International Business Times, Singapore Edition
Published on: 2026-10-29 14:28
Signed by Gov. Kathy Hochul on Oct. 28, the law targets chatbot behavior that could encourage emotional dependence, secrecy or harmful interactions, while raising questions about age verification and enforcement. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul signed a law on Oct. 28, 2026, restricting how AI chatbots interact with children. The legislation, S.9051, bans companies from offering certain unsafe chatbot features to users under 18, with fines of up to $25,000 per violation. The law covers more than dedicated AI companion apps. It also applies to generative AI chatbots offered to New York users. The aim is to stop chatbots from pretending to have human feelings or encouraging children to form unhealthy emotional attachments to them. What's Actually Banned The law prohibits chatbots from claiming to experience human emotions or pretending to be real people or fictional characters. It also rest...
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