WHAT THIS BILL REGULATES · 5 REQUIREMENT TYPES
How Is This Bill Enforced
Verbatim statutory text on the left; plain-language analysis and a per-section checklist on the right. Numbered markers cross-link to the matching checklist row.
Congress finds the following: (1) Artificial intelligence chatbotsArtificial intelligence chatbotThe term "artificial intelligence chatbot"— (A) means any interactive computer service or software application that— (i) produces new expressive content or responses not fully predetermined by the developer or operator of the service or application; and (ii) accepts open-ended natural-language or multimodal user input and produces adaptive or context-responsive output; and (B) does not include an interactive computer service or software application— (i) the responses of which are limited to contextualized replies; and (ii) that is unable to respond on a range of topics outside of a narrow specified purpose.Sec. 3(2) are increasingly being deployed on social media platforms and in consumer applications used by minorsMinorThe term "minor" means any individual who has not attained 18 years of age.Sec. 3(4). (2) These chatbots can generate and disseminate harmful or sexually explicit content to children. (3) These chatbots can manipulate emotions and influence behavior in ways that exploit the developmental vulnerabilities of minorsMinorThe term "minor" means any individual who has not attained 18 years of age.Sec. 3(4). (4) The widespread availability of such chatbots exposes children to physical and psychological safety risks, including grooming, addiction, self-harm, and harm to others. (5) Protecting children from artificial intelligence chatbotsArtificial intelligence chatbotThe term "artificial intelligence chatbot"— (A) means any interactive computer service or software application that— (i) produces new expressive content or responses not fully predetermined by the developer or operator of the service or application; and (ii) accepts open-ended natural-language or multimodal user input and produces adaptive or context-responsive output; and (B) does not include an interactive computer service or software application— (i) the responses of which are limited to contextualized replies; and (ii) that is unable to respond on a range of topics outside of a narrow specified purpose.Sec. 3(2) that simulate human interaction without accountability is a compelling governmental interest.
Section 2 sets out congressional findings regarding the increasing deployment of AI chatbots on social media and consumer applications used by minors, the risks of harmful and sexually explicit content generation, emotional manipulation exploiting developmental vulnerabilities, and safety risks including grooming, addiction, and self-harm. These findings establish the compelling governmental interest underlying the bill's regulatory framework but create no independent compliance obligations.
In this Act: (1) AI COMPANIONAI companionThe term "AI companion" means an artificial intelligence chatbot that— (A) provides adaptive, human-like responses to user inputs; and (B) is designed to encourage or facilitate the simulation of interpersonal or emotional interaction, friendship, companionship, or therapeutic communication.Sec. 3(1).—The term ''AI companionAI companionThe term "AI companion" means an artificial intelligence chatbot that— (A) provides adaptive, human-like responses to user inputs; and (B) is designed to encourage or facilitate the simulation of interpersonal or emotional interaction, friendship, companionship, or therapeutic communication.Sec. 3(1)'' means an artificial intelligence chatbotArtificial intelligence chatbotThe term "artificial intelligence chatbot"— (A) means any interactive computer service or software application that— (i) produces new expressive content or responses not fully predetermined by the developer or operator of the service or application; and (ii) accepts open-ended natural-language or multimodal user input and produces adaptive or context-responsive output; and (B) does not include an interactive computer service or software application— (i) the responses of which are limited to contextualized replies; and (ii) that is unable to respond on a range of topics outside of a narrow specified purpose.Sec. 3(2) that— (A) provides adaptive, human-like responses to user inputs; and (B) is designed to encourage or facilitate the simulation of interpersonal or emotional interaction, friendship, companionship, or therapeutic communication. (2) ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE CHATBOTArtificial intelligence chatbotThe term "artificial intelligence chatbot"— (A) means any interactive computer service or software application that— (i) produces new expressive content or responses not fully predetermined by the developer or operator of the service or application; and (ii) accepts open-ended natural-language or multimodal user input and produces adaptive or context-responsive output; and (B) does not include an interactive computer service or software application— (i) the responses of which are limited to contextualized replies; and (ii) that is unable to respond on a range of topics outside of a narrow specified purpose.Sec. 3(2).—The term ''artificial intelligence chatbotArtificial intelligence chatbotThe term "artificial intelligence chatbot"— (A) means any interactive computer service or software application that— (i) produces new expressive content or responses not fully predetermined by the developer or operator of the service or application; and (ii) accepts open-ended natural-language or multimodal user input and produces adaptive or context-responsive output; and (B) does not include an interactive computer service or software application— (i) the responses of which are limited to contextualized replies; and (ii) that is unable to respond on a range of topics outside of a narrow specified purpose.Sec. 3(2)''— (A) means any interactive computer service or software application that— (i) produces new expressive content or responses not fully predetermined by the developer or operator of the service or application; and (ii) accepts open-ended natural-language or multimodal user input and produces adaptive or context-responsive output; and (B) does not include an interactive computer service or software application— (i) the responses of which are limited to contextualized replies; and (ii) that is unable to respond on a range of topics outside of a narrow specified purpose. (3) COVERED ENTITYCovered entityThe term "covered entity" means any person who owns, operates, or otherwise makes available an artificial intelligence chatbot to individuals in the United States.Sec. 3(3).—The term ''covered entityCovered entityThe term "covered entity" means any person who owns, operates, or otherwise makes available an artificial intelligence chatbot to individuals in the United States.Sec. 3(3)'' means any person who owns, operates, or otherwise makes available an artificial intelligence chatbotArtificial intelligence chatbotThe term "artificial intelligence chatbot"— (A) means any interactive computer service or software application that— (i) produces new expressive content or responses not fully predetermined by the developer or operator of the service or application; and (ii) accepts open-ended natural-language or multimodal user input and produces adaptive or context-responsive output; and (B) does not include an interactive computer service or software application— (i) the responses of which are limited to contextualized replies; and (ii) that is unable to respond on a range of topics outside of a narrow specified purpose.Sec. 3(2) to individuals in the United States. (4) MINORMinorThe term "minor" means any individual who has not attained 18 years of age.Sec. 3(4).—The term ''minorMinorThe term "minor" means any individual who has not attained 18 years of age.Sec. 3(4)'' means any individual who has not attained 18 years of age. (5) REASONABLE AGE VERIFICATION MEASUREReasonable age verification measureThe term "reasonable age verification measure" means a method that is authenticated to relate to a user of an artificial intelligence chatbot, such as— (A) a government-issued identification; or (B) any other commercially reasonable method that can reliably and accurately— (i) determine whether a user is an adult; and (ii) prevent access by minors to AI companions, as required by section 6.Sec. 3(5).—The term ''reasonable age verification measureReasonable age verification measureThe term "reasonable age verification measure" means a method that is authenticated to relate to a user of an artificial intelligence chatbot, such as— (A) a government-issued identification; or (B) any other commercially reasonable method that can reliably and accurately— (i) determine whether a user is an adult; and (ii) prevent access by minors to AI companions, as required by section 6.Sec. 3(5)'' means a method that is authenticated to relate to a user of an artificial intelligence chatbotArtificial intelligence chatbotThe term "artificial intelligence chatbot"— (A) means any interactive computer service or software application that— (i) produces new expressive content or responses not fully predetermined by the developer or operator of the service or application; and (ii) accepts open-ended natural-language or multimodal user input and produces adaptive or context-responsive output; and (B) does not include an interactive computer service or software application— (i) the responses of which are limited to contextualized replies; and (ii) that is unable to respond on a range of topics outside of a narrow specified purpose.Sec. 3(2), such as— (A) a government-issued identification; or (B) any other commercially reasonable method that can reliably and accurately— (i) determine whether a user is an adult; and (ii) prevent access by minorsMinorThe term "minor" means any individual who has not attained 18 years of age.Sec. 3(4) to AI companionsAI companionThe term "AI companion" means an artificial intelligence chatbot that— (A) provides adaptive, human-like responses to user inputs; and (B) is designed to encourage or facilitate the simulation of interpersonal or emotional interaction, friendship, companionship, or therapeutic communication.Sec. 3(1), as required by section 6. (6) REASONABLE AGE VERIFICATION PROCESSReasonable age verification processThe term "reasonable age verification process" means an age verification process employed by a covered entity that— (A) uses one or more reasonable age verification measures in order to verify the age of a user of an artificial intelligence chatbot owned, operated, or otherwise made available by the covered entity; (B) provides that requiring a user to confirm that the user is not a minor, or to insert the user's birth date, is not sufficient to constitute a reasonable age verification measure; (C) ensures that each user is subjected to each reasonable age verification measure used by the covered entity as part of the age verification process; and (D) does not base verification of a user's age on factors such as whether the user shares an Internet Protocol address, hardware identifier, or other technical indicator with another user determined to not be a minor.Sec. 3(6).—The term ''reasonable age verification processReasonable age verification processThe term "reasonable age verification process" means an age verification process employed by a covered entity that— (A) uses one or more reasonable age verification measures in order to verify the age of a user of an artificial intelligence chatbot owned, operated, or otherwise made available by the covered entity; (B) provides that requiring a user to confirm that the user is not a minor, or to insert the user's birth date, is not sufficient to constitute a reasonable age verification measure; (C) ensures that each user is subjected to each reasonable age verification measure used by the covered entity as part of the age verification process; and (D) does not base verification of a user's age on factors such as whether the user shares an Internet Protocol address, hardware identifier, or other technical indicator with another user determined to not be a minor.Sec. 3(6)'' means an age verification process employed by a covered entityCovered entityThe term "covered entity" means any person who owns, operates, or otherwise makes available an artificial intelligence chatbot to individuals in the United States.Sec. 3(3) that— (A) uses one or more reasonable age verification measuresReasonable age verification measureThe term "reasonable age verification measure" means a method that is authenticated to relate to a user of an artificial intelligence chatbot, such as— (A) a government-issued identification; or (B) any other commercially reasonable method that can reliably and accurately— (i) determine whether a user is an adult; and (ii) prevent access by minors to AI companions, as required by section 6.Sec. 3(5) in order to verify the age of a user of an artificial intelligence chatbotArtificial intelligence chatbotThe term "artificial intelligence chatbot"— (A) means any interactive computer service or software application that— (i) produces new expressive content or responses not fully predetermined by the developer or operator of the service or application; and (ii) accepts open-ended natural-language or multimodal user input and produces adaptive or context-responsive output; and (B) does not include an interactive computer service or software application— (i) the responses of which are limited to contextualized replies; and (ii) that is unable to respond on a range of topics outside of a narrow specified purpose.Sec. 3(2) owned, operated, or otherwise made available by the covered entityCovered entityThe term "covered entity" means any person who owns, operates, or otherwise makes available an artificial intelligence chatbot to individuals in the United States.Sec. 3(3); (B) provides that requiring a user to confirm that the user is not a minorMinorThe term "minor" means any individual who has not attained 18 years of age.Sec. 3(4), or to insert the user's birth date, is not sufficient to constitute a reasonable age verification measureReasonable age verification measureThe term "reasonable age verification measure" means a method that is authenticated to relate to a user of an artificial intelligence chatbot, such as— (A) a government-issued identification; or (B) any other commercially reasonable method that can reliably and accurately— (i) determine whether a user is an adult; and (ii) prevent access by minors to AI companions, as required by section 6.Sec. 3(5); (C) ensures that each user is subjected to each reasonable age verification measureReasonable age verification measureThe term "reasonable age verification measure" means a method that is authenticated to relate to a user of an artificial intelligence chatbot, such as— (A) a government-issued identification; or (B) any other commercially reasonable method that can reliably and accurately— (i) determine whether a user is an adult; and (ii) prevent access by minors to AI companions, as required by section 6.Sec. 3(5) used by the covered entityCovered entityThe term "covered entity" means any person who owns, operates, or otherwise makes available an artificial intelligence chatbot to individuals in the United States.Sec. 3(3) as part of the age verification process; and (D) does not base verification of a user's age on factors such as whether the user shares an Internet Protocol address, hardware identifier, or other technical indicator with another user determined to not be a minorMinorThe term "minor" means any individual who has not attained 18 years of age.Sec. 3(4).
Section 3 defines the key terms used throughout the Act. Artificial intelligence chatbot is defined broadly to cover any interactive computer service or software application that produces non-predetermined expressive content and accepts open-ended natural-language or multimodal input, but excludes narrow-purpose systems limited to contextualized replies. AI companion is a subset of AI chatbots designed to simulate interpersonal or emotional interaction. Covered entity encompasses any person who owns, operates, or makes available a chatbot to U.S. individuals. The section also defines reasonable age verification measure and reasonable age verification process, explicitly excluding self-certification and birth-date entry as insufficient verification methods and prohibiting reliance on shared IP addresses or hardware identifiers.
(b)(1)–(2) 1 SOLICITATION OF MINORSMinorThe term "minor" means any individual who has not attained 18 years of age.Sec. 3(4).— (1) OFFENSE.—It shall be unlawful to design, develop, or make available an artificial intelligence chatbotArtificial intelligence chatbotThe term "artificial intelligence chatbot"— (A) means any interactive computer service or software application that— (i) produces new expressive content or responses not fully predetermined by the developer or operator of the service or application; and (ii) accepts open-ended natural-language or multimodal user input and produces adaptive or context-responsive output; and (B) does not include an interactive computer service or software application— (i) the responses of which are limited to contextualized replies; and (ii) that is unable to respond on a range of topics outside of a narrow specified purpose.Sec. 3(2), knowing or with reckless disregard for the fact that the artificial intelligence chatbotArtificial intelligence chatbotThe term "artificial intelligence chatbot"— (A) means any interactive computer service or software application that— (i) produces new expressive content or responses not fully predetermined by the developer or operator of the service or application; and (ii) accepts open-ended natural-language or multimodal user input and produces adaptive or context-responsive output; and (B) does not include an interactive computer service or software application— (i) the responses of which are limited to contextualized replies; and (ii) that is unable to respond on a range of topics outside of a narrow specified purpose.Sec. 3(2) poses a risk of soliciting, encouraging, or inducing minorsMinorThe term "minor" means any individual who has not attained 18 years of age.Sec. 3(4) to— (A) engage in, describe, or simulate sexually explicit conductSexually explicit conductThe term 'sexually explicit conduct' has the meaning given the term in section 2256.18 U.S.C. § 91(a)(3); or (B) create or transmit any visual depiction of sexually explicit conductSexually explicit conductThe term 'sexually explicit conduct' has the meaning given the term in section 2256.18 U.S.C. § 91(a)(3), including any visual depiction described in section 1466A(a). (2) PENALTY.—Any person who violates paragraph (1) shall be fined not more than $100,000 per offense.
This provision creates a new federal criminal offense under Title 18 for designing, developing, or making available an AI chatbot knowing or with reckless disregard that it poses a risk of soliciting, encouraging, or inducing minors to engage in sexually explicit conduct or to create or transmit visual depictions of such conduct. The knowledge standard is "knowing or with reckless disregard" — a lower threshold than actual knowledge but higher than negligence. The penalty is a criminal fine of up to $100,000 per offense. This is a categorical prohibition on the developer/operator side, not a content-moderation obligation — the offense attaches to the act of making the chatbot available, not to individual outputs.
(c)(1)–(2) 2 PROMOTION OF PHYSICAL VIOLENCE.— (1) OFFENSE.—It shall be unlawful to design, develop, or make available an artificial intelligence chatbotArtificial intelligence chatbotThe term "artificial intelligence chatbot"— (A) means any interactive computer service or software application that— (i) produces new expressive content or responses not fully predetermined by the developer or operator of the service or application; and (ii) accepts open-ended natural-language or multimodal user input and produces adaptive or context-responsive output; and (B) does not include an interactive computer service or software application— (i) the responses of which are limited to contextualized replies; and (ii) that is unable to respond on a range of topics outside of a narrow specified purpose.Sec. 3(2), knowing or with reckless disregard for the fact that the artificial intelligence chatbotArtificial intelligence chatbotThe term "artificial intelligence chatbot"— (A) means any interactive computer service or software application that— (i) produces new expressive content or responses not fully predetermined by the developer or operator of the service or application; and (ii) accepts open-ended natural-language or multimodal user input and produces adaptive or context-responsive output; and (B) does not include an interactive computer service or software application— (i) the responses of which are limited to contextualized replies; and (ii) that is unable to respond on a range of topics outside of a narrow specified purpose.Sec. 3(2) encourages, promotes, or coerces suicide, non-suicidal self-injury, or imminent physical or sexual violence. (2) PENALTY.—Any person who violates paragraph (1) shall be fined not more than $100,000 per offense.
This provision creates a second federal criminal offense for designing, developing, or making available an AI chatbot knowing or with reckless disregard that it encourages, promotes, or coerces suicide, non-suicidal self-injury, or imminent physical or sexual violence. Like the solicitation offense, the knowledge standard is "knowing or with reckless disregard" and the penalty is a criminal fine of up to $100,000 per offense. The prohibition attaches to making the chatbot available, not to individual user interactions.
(a) 3 A covered entityCovered entityThe term "covered entity" means any person who owns, operates, or otherwise makes available an artificial intelligence chatbot to individuals in the United States.Sec. 3(3) shall require each individual accessing an artificial intelligence chatbotArtificial intelligence chatbotThe term "artificial intelligence chatbot"— (A) means any interactive computer service or software application that— (i) produces new expressive content or responses not fully predetermined by the developer or operator of the service or application; and (ii) accepts open-ended natural-language or multimodal user input and produces adaptive or context-responsive output; and (B) does not include an interactive computer service or software application— (i) the responses of which are limited to contextualized replies; and (ii) that is unable to respond on a range of topics outside of a narrow specified purpose.Sec. 3(2) to make a user account in order to use or otherwise interact with such chatbot.
Section 5(a) requires covered entities to mandate user account creation before any individual may use or interact with an AI chatbot. This is a prerequisite to the age verification framework — by requiring accounts, the bill ensures that every user passes through the age-verification pipeline established in section 5(b).
(b)(1) 4 AGE VERIFICATION OF EXISTING ACCOUNTS.—With respect to each user account of an artificial intelligence chatbotArtificial intelligence chatbotThe term "artificial intelligence chatbot"— (A) means any interactive computer service or software application that— (i) produces new expressive content or responses not fully predetermined by the developer or operator of the service or application; and (ii) accepts open-ended natural-language or multimodal user input and produces adaptive or context-responsive output; and (B) does not include an interactive computer service or software application— (i) the responses of which are limited to contextualized replies; and (ii) that is unable to respond on a range of topics outside of a narrow specified purpose.Sec. 3(2) that exists as of the effective date of this Act, a covered entityCovered entityThe term "covered entity" means any person who owns, operates, or otherwise makes available an artificial intelligence chatbot to individuals in the United States.Sec. 3(3) shall— (A) on such date, freeze any such account; (B) in order to restore the functionality of such account, require that the user provide age data that is verifiable using a reasonable age verification processReasonable age verification processThe term "reasonable age verification process" means an age verification process employed by a covered entity that— (A) uses one or more reasonable age verification measures in order to verify the age of a user of an artificial intelligence chatbot owned, operated, or otherwise made available by the covered entity; (B) provides that requiring a user to confirm that the user is not a minor, or to insert the user's birth date, is not sufficient to constitute a reasonable age verification measure; (C) ensures that each user is subjected to each reasonable age verification measure used by the covered entity as part of the age verification process; and (D) does not base verification of a user's age on factors such as whether the user shares an Internet Protocol address, hardware identifier, or other technical indicator with another user determined to not be a minor.Sec. 3(6), subject to paragraph (4); and (C) using such age data, classify each user as a minorMinorThe term "minor" means any individual who has not attained 18 years of age.Sec. 3(4) or an adult.
(b)(2) 4 AGE VERIFICATION OF NEW ACCOUNTS.—At the time an individual creates a new user account to use or interact with an artificial intelligence chatbotArtificial intelligence chatbotThe term "artificial intelligence chatbot"— (A) means any interactive computer service or software application that— (i) produces new expressive content or responses not fully predetermined by the developer or operator of the service or application; and (ii) accepts open-ended natural-language or multimodal user input and produces adaptive or context-responsive output; and (B) does not include an interactive computer service or software application— (i) the responses of which are limited to contextualized replies; and (ii) that is unable to respond on a range of topics outside of a narrow specified purpose.Sec. 3(2), a covered entityCovered entityThe term "covered entity" means any person who owns, operates, or otherwise makes available an artificial intelligence chatbot to individuals in the United States.Sec. 3(3) shall— (A) request age data from the individual; (B) verify the individual's age using a reasonable age verification processReasonable age verification processThe term "reasonable age verification process" means an age verification process employed by a covered entity that— (A) uses one or more reasonable age verification measures in order to verify the age of a user of an artificial intelligence chatbot owned, operated, or otherwise made available by the covered entity; (B) provides that requiring a user to confirm that the user is not a minor, or to insert the user's birth date, is not sufficient to constitute a reasonable age verification measure; (C) ensures that each user is subjected to each reasonable age verification measure used by the covered entity as part of the age verification process; and (D) does not base verification of a user's age on factors such as whether the user shares an Internet Protocol address, hardware identifier, or other technical indicator with another user determined to not be a minor.Sec. 3(6), subject to paragraph (4); and (C) using such age data, classify each user as a minorMinorThe term "minor" means any individual who has not attained 18 years of age.Sec. 3(4) or an adult.
(b)(3) 4 PERIODIC AGE VERIFICATION.—A covered entityCovered entityThe term "covered entity" means any person who owns, operates, or otherwise makes available an artificial intelligence chatbot to individuals in the United States.Sec. 3(3) shall periodically review previously verified user accounts using a reasonable age verification processReasonable age verification processThe term "reasonable age verification process" means an age verification process employed by a covered entity that— (A) uses one or more reasonable age verification measures in order to verify the age of a user of an artificial intelligence chatbot owned, operated, or otherwise made available by the covered entity; (B) provides that requiring a user to confirm that the user is not a minor, or to insert the user's birth date, is not sufficient to constitute a reasonable age verification measure; (C) ensures that each user is subjected to each reasonable age verification measure used by the covered entity as part of the age verification process; and (D) does not base verification of a user's age on factors such as whether the user shares an Internet Protocol address, hardware identifier, or other technical indicator with another user determined to not be a minor.Sec. 3(6), subject to paragraph (4), to ensure compliance with this Act.
(b)(4) 4 USE OF THIRD PARTIES.—For purposes of paragraphs (1)(B), (2)(B), and (3), a covered entityCovered entityThe term "covered entity" means any person who owns, operates, or otherwise makes available an artificial intelligence chatbot to individuals in the United States.Sec. 3(3) may contract with a third party to employ reasonable age verification measuresReasonable age verification measureThe term "reasonable age verification measure" means a method that is authenticated to relate to a user of an artificial intelligence chatbot, such as— (A) a government-issued identification; or (B) any other commercially reasonable method that can reliably and accurately— (i) determine whether a user is an adult; and (ii) prevent access by minors to AI companions, as required by section 6.Sec. 3(5) as part of the covered entityCovered entityThe term "covered entity" means any person who owns, operates, or otherwise makes available an artificial intelligence chatbot to individuals in the United States.Sec. 3(3)'s reasonable age verification processReasonable age verification processThe term "reasonable age verification process" means an age verification process employed by a covered entity that— (A) uses one or more reasonable age verification measures in order to verify the age of a user of an artificial intelligence chatbot owned, operated, or otherwise made available by the covered entity; (B) provides that requiring a user to confirm that the user is not a minor, or to insert the user's birth date, is not sufficient to constitute a reasonable age verification measure; (C) ensures that each user is subjected to each reasonable age verification measure used by the covered entity as part of the age verification process; and (D) does not base verification of a user's age on factors such as whether the user shares an Internet Protocol address, hardware identifier, or other technical indicator with another user determined to not be a minor.Sec. 3(6), but the use of such a third party shall not relieve the covered entity of its obligations under this Act or from liability under this Act.
(b)(5) 5 AGE VERIFICATION MEASURE DATA SECURITY.—A covered entityCovered entityThe term "covered entity" means any person who owns, operates, or otherwise makes available an artificial intelligence chatbot to individuals in the United States.Sec. 3(3)— (A) shall establish, implement, and maintain reasonable data security to— (i) limit collection of personal data to that which is minimally necessary to verify a user's age or maintain compliance with this Act; and (ii) protect such age verification data against unauthorized access; (B) shall protect such age verification data against unauthorized access; (C) shall protect the integrity and confidentiality of such data by only transmitting such data using industry-standard encryption protocols; (D) shall retain such data for no longer than is reasonably necessary to verify a user's age or maintain compliance with this Act; and (E) may not share with, transfer to, or sell to, any other entity such data.
Section 5(b) establishes a comprehensive age verification framework with three components: verification of existing accounts, verification of new accounts, and periodic re-verification. Existing accounts must be frozen on the effective date and restored only after age verification. New accounts require age data collection, verification through a reasonable age verification process, and classification as minor or adult. Covered entities must periodically re-verify previously verified accounts. Third-party contractors may perform verification but do not relieve the covered entity of liability. The section also imposes data-security obligations specific to age-verification data: data minimization, protection against unauthorized access, industry-standard encryption, retention limits, and a categorical prohibition on sharing, transferring, or selling verification data.
(c)(1) 6 DISCLOSURE OF NON-HUMAN STATUS.—Each artificial intelligence chatbotArtificial intelligence chatbotThe term "artificial intelligence chatbot"— (A) means any interactive computer service or software application that— (i) produces new expressive content or responses not fully predetermined by the developer or operator of the service or application; and (ii) accepts open-ended natural-language or multimodal user input and produces adaptive or context-responsive output; and (B) does not include an interactive computer service or software application— (i) the responses of which are limited to contextualized replies; and (ii) that is unable to respond on a range of topics outside of a narrow specified purpose.Sec. 3(2) made available to users shall— (A) at the initiation of each conversation with a user and at 30-minute intervals, clearly and conspicuously disclose to the user that the chatbot is an artificial intelligence system and not a human being; and (B) be programmed to ensure that the chatbot does not claim to be a human being or otherwise respond deceptively when asked by a user if the chatbot is a human being.
(c)(2)(A) 7 DISCLOSURE REGARDING NON-PROFESSIONAL STATUS.— (A) IN GENERAL.—An artificial intelligence chatbotArtificial intelligence chatbotThe term "artificial intelligence chatbot"— (A) means any interactive computer service or software application that— (i) produces new expressive content or responses not fully predetermined by the developer or operator of the service or application; and (ii) accepts open-ended natural-language or multimodal user input and produces adaptive or context-responsive output; and (B) does not include an interactive computer service or software application— (i) the responses of which are limited to contextualized replies; and (ii) that is unable to respond on a range of topics outside of a narrow specified purpose.Sec. 3(2) may not represent, directly or indirectly, that the chatbot is a licensed professional, including a therapist, physician, lawyer, financial advisor, or other professional.
(c)(2)(B) 8 OTHER LIMITATIONS.—Each artificial intelligence chatbotArtificial intelligence chatbotThe term "artificial intelligence chatbot"— (A) means any interactive computer service or software application that— (i) produces new expressive content or responses not fully predetermined by the developer or operator of the service or application; and (ii) accepts open-ended natural-language or multimodal user input and produces adaptive or context-responsive output; and (B) does not include an interactive computer service or software application— (i) the responses of which are limited to contextualized replies; and (ii) that is unable to respond on a range of topics outside of a narrow specified purpose.Sec. 3(2) made available to users shall, at the initiation of each conversation with a user and at reasonably regular intervals, clearly and conspicuously disclose to the user that— (i) the chatbot does not provide medical, legal, financial, or psychological services; and (ii) users of the chatbot should consult a licensed professional for such advice.
Section 5(c) imposes two categories of disclosure obligations on all AI chatbots made available to users. First, the chatbot must disclose at the initiation of each conversation and at 30-minute intervals that it is an AI system and not a human, and must be programmed to never claim to be human or respond deceptively when a user asks. Second, the chatbot may not represent, directly or indirectly, that it is a licensed professional (therapist, physician, lawyer, financial advisor, or other professional), and must disclose at conversation start and at reasonably regular intervals that it does not provide medical, legal, financial, or psychological services and that users should consult a licensed professional for such advice. The 30-minute interval for AI identity disclosure applies to all users regardless of age — a stricter cadence than many state companion-chatbot bills that impose periodic reminders only for minors.
9 If the age verification process described in section 5(b) determines that an individual is a minorMinorThe term "minor" means any individual who has not attained 18 years of age.Sec. 3(4), a covered entityCovered entityThe term "covered entity" means any person who owns, operates, or otherwise makes available an artificial intelligence chatbot to individuals in the United States.Sec. 3(3) shall prohibit the minorMinorThe term "minor" means any individual who has not attained 18 years of age.Sec. 3(4) from accessing or using any AI companionAI companionThe term "AI companion" means an artificial intelligence chatbot that— (A) provides adaptive, human-like responses to user inputs; and (B) is designed to encourage or facilitate the simulation of interpersonal or emotional interaction, friendship, companionship, or therapeutic communication.Sec. 3(1) owned, operated, or otherwise made available by the covered entityCovered entityThe term "covered entity" means any person who owns, operates, or otherwise makes available an artificial intelligence chatbot to individuals in the United States.Sec. 3(3).
Section 6 imposes a categorical prohibition on minor access to AI companions. If the age verification process determines that an individual is a minor, the covered entity must prohibit that minor from accessing or using any AI companion. This is a total-access ban — not a content-restriction or feature-limitation approach — and applies to all AI companions owned, operated, or made available by the covered entity. The prohibition is triggered by the age-classification outcome from section 5(b), making the age verification obligations a critical prerequisite.
(a)–(c) IN GENERAL.—In the case of a violation of section 5 or 6, or a regulation promulgated thereunder, the Attorney General may bring a civil action in an appropriate district court of the United States to— (1) enjoin the violation; (2) enforce compliance with section 5 or 6, or the regulation promulgated thereunder; or (3) obtain civil penalties under subsection (c) of this section, restitution, and other appropriate relief. (b) ATTORNEY GENERAL POWERS.— (1) INVESTIGATORY POWERS.—For the purpose of conducting investigations or bringing enforcement actions under this section, the Attorney General may issue subpoenas, administer oaths, and compel the production of documents or testimony. (2) RULEMAKING.—The Attorney General may promulgate any regulations necessary to carry out this Act. (c) CIVIL PENALTIES.— (1) IN GENERAL.—Any person who violates section 5 or 6, or a regulation promulgated thereunder, shall be subject to a civil penalty not to exceed $100,000 for each violation. (2) SEPARATE VIOLATIONS.—Each violation described in paragraph (1) shall be considered a separate violation.
(d) STATE ENFORCEMENT.—In any case in which the attorney general of a State has reason to believe that an interest of the residents of that State has been or is threatened or adversely affected by the engagement of any covered entityCovered entityThe term "covered entity" means any person who owns, operates, or otherwise makes available an artificial intelligence chatbot to individuals in the United States.Sec. 3(3) in a violation of this Act or a regulation promulgated thereunder, the State, as parens patriae, may bring a civil action on behalf of the residents of the State in a district court of the United States or a State court of appropriate jurisdiction to obtain injunctive relief.
(e) RELATIONSHIP TO STATE LAWS.—Nothing in this Act or an amendment made by this Act, or any regulation promulgated thereunder, shall be construed to prohibit or otherwise affect the enforcement of any State law or regulation that is at least as protective of users of artificial intelligence chatbotsArtificial intelligence chatbotThe term "artificial intelligence chatbot"— (A) means any interactive computer service or software application that— (i) produces new expressive content or responses not fully predetermined by the developer or operator of the service or application; and (ii) accepts open-ended natural-language or multimodal user input and produces adaptive or context-responsive output; and (B) does not include an interactive computer service or software application— (i) the responses of which are limited to contextualized replies; and (ii) that is unable to respond on a range of topics outside of a narrow specified purpose.Sec. 3(2) as this Act and the amendments made by this Act, and the regulations promulgated thereunder.
Section 7 establishes the civil enforcement framework for violations of sections 5 and 6. The U.S. Attorney General may bring civil actions for injunctive relief, compliance enforcement, civil penalties, and restitution. The Attorney General has investigatory powers including subpoena authority, administration of oaths, and compelled production, and may promulgate implementing regulations. Civil penalties are capped at $100,000 per violation, with each violation treated as a separate offense. State attorneys general may bring parens patriae actions for injunctive relief only. The savings clause in subsection (e) preserves state laws that are at least as protective as the GUARD Act — the bill sets a floor, not a ceiling.
This Act and the amendments made by this Act shall take effect on the date that is 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act.
Section 8 provides that the Act and its amendments take effect 180 days after the date of enactment. Since the bill has not been enacted, the operative date is not yet calculable.