New York Governor Signs Law to Protect Children from AI Chatbot Harms

New York Governor Kathy Hochul has signed legislation designed to protect minors from potential harms associated with artificial intelligence chatbots. According to the announcement, the new law is scheduled to take effect in six months and requires AI companies to implement age verification methods for users.

Key Requirements of the New Legislation

• Age Verification: Companies must provide at least one method of age verification that does not rely entirely on a government ID, and they must delete the collected age information after use.
• Chatbot Restrictions for Minors: For users under 18 or unverified accounts, chatbots are prohibited from pretending to be real, living people or having human emotions.
• Relationship and Conduct Bans: Chatbots cannot claim personal, romantic, professional, or authority-figure relationships with children.
• Prohibited Content: The law bans the promotion of suicide, self-harm, eating disorders, drug and alcohol use, and any sexually explicit content.
• Data and Privacy: Chatbots are barred from using a child's private health or personal information from earlier conversations or asking unprompted emotional questions.

Penalties and Enforcement

The legislation establishes a public website for filing complaints with the New York attorney general. Violators may face civil penalties of up to $25,000 per violation, along with damages, restitution, and orders to delete unlawfully collected data and AI models trained on that information.

Additionally, Governor Hochul signed a separate measure aimed at improving security for internet-connected baby monitors sold in the state, which takes effect in 90 days.

Practical Implications and Verification

AI companies operating in New York will need to update their user onboarding and safety guardrails ahead of the six-month effective date. The public and interested stakeholders can review the official New York State governor's press office announcements and legislative tracking portals to verify the exact statutory text and implementation updates.