No company should sell AI chatbots ‘pretending to be their friend or more’ to kids, says Hochul as she signs New York’s new law for under-18s.
"Survivors should be able to trust the institutions responsible for protecting them," New York Governor Kathy Hochul said.
Technology
Under the law, AI companies must block chatbots from pretending they’re humans when chatting with a user under 18. They also restrict other inappropriate conversations with kids, including those that involve flattery, unprompted emotional questions, and encouragement surrounding secret-keeping. The law requires AI companies to verify the ages of users and include “at least one option that does not depend solely on government ID.” Last month, NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani banned younger schoolkids from using AI.