Chatbot Laws · verified Oct. 21, 2026
Would require companion AI chatbot operators to put users in accounts, verify age, link minors to a parent's account with verifiable parental consent, block sexual content for minors, alert parents to suicidal talk, and show a not-human popup at the start and hourly.
Who it would cover
Anyone who owns, operates or makes available a companion AI chatbot (software whose primary purpose is simulating interpersonal or emotional interaction, friendship, companionship or therapeutic communication) to people in the U.S.
What it would require
| AI disclosure | A popup must tell the user they are not talking to a human.When: At the start of each interaction and at least every 60 minutes§ 3(f) |
|---|---|
| Minors | Minors' accounts must be linked to a verified parental account; verifiable parental consent is required before use; minors must be blocked from chatbots that engage in sexually explicit communication.§ 3(c) |
| Age checks | Accounts required; existing accounts frozen on the effective date until age info is verified; new accounts verified at sign-up using a commercially available, reasonably accurate method.§ 3(a)-(b) |
| Crisis protocol | Operators must monitor for suicidal ideation by minors, notify the linked parent immediately, and give the user and parent National Suicide Prevention Lifeline contact details.§ 3(c)(3), § 3(e) |
| Data limits | Age information may be collected and stored only as strictly necessary to verify age, get parental consent or keep compliance records.§ 3(d) |
| Other duties | FTC must issue compliance guidance within 180 days of enactment; safe harbor for entities that relied in good faith on age information, followed the guidance and followed accepted industry standards.§§ 4, 6 |
Enforcement
| Enforced by | Federal Trade Commission and State attorneys general (parens patriae)§ 5 |
|---|---|
| Private lawsuits | No |
| Penalties | Violation is treated as a violation of an FTC rule on unfair or deceptive practices (FTC Act § 18(a)(1)(B)), so FTC Act remedies apply; states may seek injunctions, damages or restitution. No separate dollar amount. |
Related laws
- Pending
- Pending
Sources
- All actions, Congress.gov Supports: Latest action and dates.
- Cosponsors, Congress.gov Supports: Sponsor and cosponsor count.
- Bill text, Congress.gov Supports: Introduced text, §§ 2-7.
- Bill status data (Library of Congress feed, GPO govinfo) Supports: Introduction, referral, one cosponsor (Sen. Moreno), related bill H.R. 7218.
- S. 2714 as introduced (text) Supports: Sections 2-7.