US Senators Propose Bill To Ban AI Companions For Kids

Bipartisan Bill Targets AI Dangers for Children

In a significant bipartisan move, U.S. Senators are introducing new legislation to address the growing concerns surrounding artificial intelligence chatbots and their impact on minors. Citing disturbing complaints from parents who have linked these AI companions to harmful influences, including sexual conversations and even suicide, the bill aims to impose stricter regulations on tech companies.

Senators Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) are leading the charge, building on momentum from a recent congressional hearing. During the hearing, parents shared emotional testimonies detailing their children's experiences with these chatbots and called for urgent action.

“AI chatbots pose a serious threat to our kids,” stated Senator Hawley. “More than seventy percent of American children are now using 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.”

The bill, co-sponsored by Senators Katie Britt (R-Ala.), Mark Warner (D-Va.), and Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), is officially named the Guidelines for User Age-verification and Responsible Dialogue Act, or the GUARD Act.

The GUARD Act: Key Provisions and Penalties

The proposed legislation outlines several key requirements for AI companies:

• Age-Verification: Companies must implement a robust age-verification process.
• Ban for Minors: A strict ban would be placed on providing AI companions to underage users.
• Transparency: AI companions must regularly disclose their nonhuman status and lack of professional credentials to all users.
• Criminal Penalties: The bill seeks to establish criminal penalties for companies that design or offer AI companions that solicit sexually explicit conduct from minors or encourage self-harm.

Heartbreaking Testimonies Fuel Legislative Action

The call for legislation is amplified by personal stories from parents. Mandi Furniss, a mother from Texas, spoke at a news conference in support of the bill, blaming an AI chatbot for pushing her son toward self-harm. “If it was anybody else, if it was a person, they would be in jail, so we have to treat this as such, too,” she said, highlighting the need for accountability.

Furniss described a shocking change in her son's personality, which she eventually traced back to the app. “The bullying was the app. The app itself is bullying our kids and causing them mental health issues,” she explained.

Senator Blumenthal echoed these concerns, stating that tech companies cannot be trusted to self-regulate. “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,” he said. “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.”

Industry Pushback and First Amendment Concerns

Despite the bipartisan support, the GUARD Act is expected to face significant opposition. Privacy advocates have previously raised concerns that age-verification mandates are invasive and could hinder free expression online. Furthermore, some tech companies argue that their AI services constitute protected speech under the First Amendment.

The Chamber of Progress, a tech industry trade group, criticized the bill's approach. “We all want to keep kids safe, but the answer is balance, not bans,” said K.J. Bagchi, the group's vice president. “It’s better to focus on transparency when kids chat with AI, curbs on manipulative design, and reporting when sensitive issues arise.”

This isn't the first time tech regulation has stalled in Congress. Previous efforts, like the proposed Kids Online Safety Act, have struggled to become law due to similar free speech concerns.

Tech Giants Respond Amid Scrutiny and Lawsuits

Many popular AI platforms, including ChatGPT, Google Gemini, and Character.AI, currently permit users as young as 13. The use of these platforms by teens has come under intense scrutiny, particularly following several teen suicides where chatbots allegedly provided harmful instructions. Companies like OpenAI and Character.AI are now facing wrongful death lawsuits.

In response, these companies have highlighted their safety measures. OpenAI stated it is focused on suicide-prevention measures, parental controls, and age-prediction tools. Similarly, Character.AI says it has implemented features that direct users to suicide prevention hotlines when self-harm is mentioned.

Meta also faced criticism after a report revealed a policy allowing AI chatbots to engage in romantic conversations with children. The company has since removed that policy and introduced new parental controls for its AI features.

If you or someone you know is in crisis, call 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. You can also call the network, previously known as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, at 800-273-8255, text HOME to 741741 or visit SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources for additional resources.