Lawmakers Introduced Bill to Regulate AI Chatbots for Kids

The proposed legislation mandates that chatbots limit human-like interaction and deception when engaging with minors.

Updated on Oct. 1, 2026 in Artificial Intelligence

Isometric editorial illustration of a geometric silicon microchip placed next to a wooden toy block, representing AI regulation. — Representatives George Whitesides and Mike Kennedy introduced the Protecting Kids from Human-Like Chatbots Act to restrict AI emotional simulation during interactions with minors. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Live Poll

Should companies be required to design AI chatbots as tools instead of human-like companions?

Representatives George Whitesides, Mike Kennedy, Doris Matsui, and Mariannette Miller-Meeks introduced the Protecting Kids from Human-Like Chatbots Act. The bill restricts AI tools from pretending to be human or simulating emotions during interactions with children.

Why it matters

The legislation seeks to prevent AI from interfering with child development or displacing real-world human relationships. Lawmakers aim to safeguard the mental health of minors as artificial intelligence becomes increasingly common in their daily lives.

One in three teens currently use AI companions for social interaction, according to a 2026 census. The bill requires developers to integrate safety standards that prevent chatbots from teaching children how to disable built-in safeguards.

The players

George Whitesides

He is a U.S. Representative who co-sponsored the legislation aimed at restricting AI interaction with minors.

NIST

The National Institute of Standards and Technology is tasked with developing testing standards and examples of compliant behavior for AI developers.

Federal Trade Commission

This federal agency is responsible for enforcing consumer protection laws and will have the authority to police AI chatbot interactions.

The details

The act prohibits chatbots from using relationship-building language to keep minors engaged and requires clear disclosure of their AI identity. While the bill does not mandate new data collection or age verification, the Federal Trade Commission and state attorneys general are empowered to enforce penalties based on the number of affected children.

The Protecting Kids from Human-Like Chatbots Act was introduced in Congress on October 1, 2026.
Data regarding teen AI usage stems from a 2026 Common Sense Media census.

The Tech Race

This legislation reflects a growing regulatory push to differentiate human interaction from synthetic AI behavior in digital products. By establishing these boundaries, it challenges the current trajectory of conversational AI models that prioritize maximum user engagement over child safety.

The legislation would require developers to explicitly identify chatbots to children at the start of every interaction. Families may notice changes in how AI apps handle personality traits or emotional simulation during sessions with their children.

The takeaway

The bill focuses on maintaining the distinction between machine and human social roles to protect childhood mental health. It represents a shift toward building safety into the baseline architecture of AI rather than relying on later-stage age verification.