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Hochul Signs New Law Restricting AI Chatbots Under 18

By Drooid · Oct 29, 2026 · How we work

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Summary

Governor Kathy Hochul signed a law banning unsafe AI chatbot features for users under 18.
Effective Jan. 1, companies must verify each user’s age and provide at least one non-government-ID method.
The law prohibits chatbots from claiming emotions, opinions, or personal, romantic, professional relationships with minors.
It also bans chatbots that promote suicide, self-harm, sexually explicit or sexual-abuse material for minors.

Summary

Lawmakers passed a baby-monitor security law after 16-year-old Adam Raine’s April 2025 suicide.
Prosecutor Letitia James may seek $25,000 civil penalties per violation and order data destruction.
Rapid7’s test gave eight of nine internet-connected baby monitors an “F” rating, one a “D”.
Companies must place a warning label on new baby monitors showing internet connectivity and security settings.
Proposed FOCUS Act would ban cameras, social media, and AI chatbots on devices through grade 8.

History

The Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act, passed in 1998 and effective April 21 2000, obliges online services to obtain verifiable parental consent before collecting data from users under 13. The FTC enforces $40,000 per-violation penalties and revised the rules in 2013 to broaden data definitions. Congress revisited the law with the COPPA 2.0 and Kids Online Safety Act bills in July 2024, extending the original child-privacy framework.

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The Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act, passed in 1998 and effective April 21 2000, obliges online services to obtain verifiable parental consent before collecting data from users under 13. The FTC enforces $40,000 per-violation penalties and revised the rules in 2013 to broaden data definitions. Congress revisited the law with the COPPA 2.0 and Kids Online Safety Act bills in July 2024, extending the original child-privacy framework.

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