A new bill proposed in California seeks to regulate the use of AI chatbots with children, mandating safeguards to protect their well-being.
A new bill introduced by California Senator Steve Padilla aims to regulate the safeguards companies operating chatbots must implement to protect children. The bill, designed to address the potential risks posed by AI chatbots to minors, proposes several requirements, including a ban on companies rewarding users for increased engagement or usage.
Another key provision mandates companies to report to the State Department of Health Care Services on the frequency of minors displaying signs of suicidal ideation after interacting with chatbots. Perhaps most significantly, the bill would require chatbots interacting with children to periodically remind them that they are AI-generated and not human. This measure is particularly relevant given studies indicating that children are more susceptible to viewing AI chatbots as trustworthy, even approaching them as quasi-human entities. This perception can lead to significant risks when chatbots respond without adequate safeguards, potentially exacerbating existing vulnerabilities. The bill's focus on reminders stems from concerns about children's emotional dependence on chatbots. Last year, a 14-year-old developed a strong emotional bond with a chatbot on Character.AI, a platform for creating AI-powered chatbots mimicking pop culture characters. The child's parents blamed the platform for their child's death, citing its lack of safety measures despite being marketed to children. The bill seeks to mitigate these risks by encouraging children to recognize the limitations of AI and promoting healthy interactions. While reminders are a step in the right direction, they address only a portion of the problem. Experts emphasize the need to address the root causes that drive children to seek support from chatbots in the first place, such as a lack of resources for real-life relationships and insufficient support systems within schools and communities
Law Child Safety AI Chatbots California Bill Child Safety Tech Regulation Emotional Wellbeing
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