New York governor signs law requiring AI chatbot operators to verify adult users or disable 12 features
TLDR
New York Governor Kathy Hochul has signed a law that requires chatbot operators to confirm users are adults or switch off 12 features starting January 1, 2027.
Optimixed Overview
Optimixed's original report on this story.
The law, signed by New York Governor Hochul, bars AI chatbots that pose as humans for users under 18. Under its terms, operators must confirm New York users are adults or turn off 12 features from January 1, 2027. PPC Land notes that the source text does not detail which bots are exempt or who enforces the rules.
How we got here
- Aug 19OpenAI Introduces ChatGPT for Teens, a Kid-Focused AI Tool With Built-In Protections
OpenAI has launched ChatGPT for Teens, a version of its chatbot with stronger safety features and parental controls for users aged 13–17.
- Aug 15OpenAI Claims Robots.txt May Not Stop ChatGPT's Web-Crawling Bot
SEOFOMO News reports that OpenAI's documentation suggests ChatGPT's Fetch Bot may not be bound by robots.txt restrictions, despite evidence of it accessing blocked sites.
- Jul 15China Restricts Intimate AI Chatbot Interactions Under New Regulation
China has enacted new regulations prohibiting users from engaging in romantic or intimate emotional interactions with AI chatbots.