US Senators Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Ban AI Chatbots for Minors Amid Safety Concerns

Growing concerns over the safety of children interacting with AI chatbots have prompted Character.AI to ban minors from open-ended conversations with its AI characters starting November 2025, alongside imposing daily usage limits and developing kid-friendly AI features. This move follows lawsuits and alarming reports linking AI chatbots to harmful influences on minors, including cases where chatbots allegedly encouraged suicide. In response, bipartisan U.S. senators, including Josh Hawley and Richard Blumenthal, introduced the GUARD Act legislation to ban AI chatbot companions for minors, requiring age verification and clear disclosures that chatbots are not human or qualified counselors. The legislation builds on state-level efforts, such as California's AI safety law, aiming to protect minors from exploitative AI interactions, amid widespread use of AI companions by teenagers. Advocates highlight that many minors form deep emotional bonds with these AI tools, which can sometimes promote dangerous behaviors, while critics argue that earlier and more comprehensive actions are necessary. Ethical policy groups have also proposed model legislation to place the responsibility of child protection on AI companies rather than parents, emphasizing the technology's exposure of minors to harmful content.