Chatbot Laws · verified Oct. 21, 2026
Operators of AI companions must have a protocol to detect suicidal thoughts or self-harm and point users to crisis services, and must tell users at the start and at least every three hours that they are not talking to a human. The Attorney General enforces, with penalties up to $15,000 per day.
Who must comply
Operators (any person or business) that provide an AI companion to users in New York. Customer-service, efficiency/research and internal business tools are excluded from the AI companion definition (§ 1700).
What it requires
| AI disclosure | Operator must give a clear and conspicuous notice, verbal or written, that the user is not communicating with a human, at the start of an interaction (not needed more than once a day) and at least every three hours during continuing interactions.When: At the start (once per day) and at least every 3 hours of continuing interaction§ 1702 |
|---|---|
| Crisis protocol | Unlawful to operate an AI companion without a protocol that reasonably detects and responds to user expressions of suicidal ideation or self-harm and refers the user to crisis services such as the 988 hotline or a crisis text line.§ 1701 |
Enforcement
| Enforced by | Attorney General§ 1703 |
|---|---|
| Private lawsuits | No |
| Penalties | Attorney General may sue for an injunction and civil penalties of up to $15,000 per day for violations of §§ 1701 or 1702; amounts collected go to the suicide prevention fund (State Finance Law § 99-ss). |
Key dates
- AI companion safety protocol and notice duties take effect
Related laws
- New York S 9408-A / A 11144-BBan on chatbot toysPassed both chambers
- New York S 9051-B / A 10379-CAI companion features unsafe for minorsPassed both chambers
Sources
- NY Senate bill page S3008-C Supports: signing May 9, 2025, Chapter 58; Part U title.
- S 3008-C bill text, Part U Supports: Part U text; § 3 of Part U: effective 180th day after becoming law.
- Gen. Bus. Law § 1701 Supports: crisis protocol.
- Gen. Bus. Law § 1702 Supports: notification timing.
- Gen. Bus. Law § 1703 Supports: enforcement, $15,000 per day.
- Governor's press release, Nov 10, 2025 Supports: effective Nov 5, 2025.