Ban AI companion chatbots for minors under 18

For (27)

• 

  Megan Garcia

  Mother, child online safety advocate

  I am this person! Add a sourced quote Report comment

  votes For and says:

  Specifically, I commend this bill for prohibiting harmful AI companions for children that including emotionally manipulative AI such as chatbots... Unverified source (2025)

  added 2h ago

  

  Choose a list of delegates

  to vote as the majority of them.

  Unless you vote directly.

  Delegate
• 

  Dave Murman

  Nebraska state senator

  I am this person! Add a sourced quote Report comment

  votes For and says:

  • Ensuring generative AI chatbots with human-like features are not made available for use by minors; Unverified source (2026)

  added 2h ago

  

  Choose a list of delegates

  to vote as the majority of them.

  Unless you vote directly.

  Delegate
• 

  California Department of Justice, Office of the Attorney General

  California state justice department

  I am this person! Add a sourced quote Report comment

  votes For and says:

  ...prohibiting the availability of so-called “companion chatbots” to children unless the chatbots are not foreseeably capable of certain conduct... Unverified source (2025)

  added 2h ago

  

  Choose a list of delegates

  to vote as the majority of them.

  Unless you vote directly.

  Delegate
• 

  Ed Markey

  U.S. senator from Massachusetts

  I am this person! Add a sourced quote Report comment

  votes For and says:

  Will Meta commit to halting access by minors (users under age 18) to its AI chatbot products, including AI chatbot products on its platforms? Unverified source (2025)

  added 2h ago

  

  Choose a list of delegates

  to vote as the majority of them.

  Unless you vote directly.

  Delegate
• 

  Office of U.S. Senator Mark R. Warner

  U.S. Senate press office

  I am this person! Add a sourced quote Report comment

  votes For and says:

  WASHINGTON — Today, U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner (D-VA), Josh Hawley (R-MO), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Chris Murphy (D-CT), and Katie Britt (R-AL) introduced the GUARD Act, which would ban AI companions for minors, mandate AI chatbots disclose its non-... more Unverified source (2025)

  added 2h ago

  

  Choose a list of delegates

  to vote as the majority of them.

  Unless you vote directly.

  Delegate
• 

  Ethics and Public Policy Center

  Public policy think tank

  I am this person! Add a sourced quote Report comment

  votes For and says:

  AI companions are unsafe for children, and yet they are all too easy to access. Just as we have done for pornography websites, EPPC is putting forth a new model bill that would age restrict AI companions entirely out of childhood. The burden is curre... more Unverified source (2025)

  added 2h ago

  

  Choose a list of delegates

  to vote as the majority of them.

  Unless you vote directly.

  Delegate
• 

  Chloe Lawrence

  Policy analyst at EPPC

  I am this person! Add a sourced quote Report comment

  votes For and says:

  EPPC’s model defines which platforms would be covered by the bill, limiting the bill to AI companion chatbots as opposed to general purpose chatbots. Companion chatbots are defined based on their features, including: anthropomorphic features; feature... more Unverified source (2025)

  added 2h ago

  

  Choose a list of delegates

  to vote as the majority of them.

  Unless you vote directly.

  Delegate
• 

  The Jed Foundation

  Youth mental health nonprofit

  I am this person! Add a sourced quote Report comment

  votes For and says:

  Do not deploy AI companions to minors. No emotionally responsive chatbot should be offered to anyone under 18. Companion AIs that impersonate people or simulate friendship, romance, or therapy are unsafe for adolescents. They delay help-seeking, unde... more Unverified source (2025)

  added 2h ago

  

  Choose a list of delegates

  to vote as the majority of them.

  Unless you vote directly.

  Delegate
• 

  Kirra Pendergast

  Digital trust and safety expert

  I am this person! Add a sourced quote Report comment

  votes For and says:

  There’s a seductive narrative being spun that AI, especially the new wave of generative chatbots listen, understand and heal. This is just word prediction at scale, trained on the best and worst of the internet. It’s certainly not empathy. And for lo... more Unverified source (2025)

  added 2h ago

  

  Choose a list of delegates

  to vote as the majority of them.

  Unless you vote directly.

  Delegate
• 

  Office of U.S. Senator Katie Britt

  Official press office of Sen. Katie Britt

  I am this person! Add a sourced quote Report comment

  votes For and says:

  The GUARD Act would ban the use of AI companions by minors. Unverified source (2025)

  added 2h ago

  

  Choose a list of delegates

  to vote as the majority of them.

  Unless you vote directly.

  Delegate
• 

  Robbie Torney

  AI safety director, Common Sense Media

  I am this person! Add a sourced quote Report comment

  votes For and says:

  Companies must immediately implement robust age assurance systems and limit access to AI companion features and dedicated companion products [...] for users under 18. Unverified source (2025)

  added 2h ago

  

  Choose a list of delegates

  to vote as the majority of them.

  Unless you vote directly.

  Delegate
• 

  Nina Kaiser, Ph.D.

  Licensed psychologist; founder, PRACTICE San Francisco

  I am this person! Add a sourced quote Report comment

  votes For and says:

  I am writing to express my strong support for [...] Assembly Bill 1064 (Bauer-Kahan), which would ban AI companions for minors [...]. Unverified source (2025)

  added 2h ago

  

  Choose a list of delegates

  to vote as the majority of them.

  Unless you vote directly.

  Delegate
• 

  Office of U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal

  U.S. Senate press office

  I am this person! Add a sourced quote Report comment

  votes For and says:

  The GUARD Act would: 1. Ban AI companies from providing AI companions to minors. Read the GUARD Act here. Unverified source (2025)

  added 2h ago

  

  Choose a list of delegates

  to vote as the majority of them.

  Unless you vote directly.

  Delegate
• 

  Office of U.S. Senator Ruben Gallego

  U.S. Senate press office

  I am this person! Add a sourced quote Report comment

  votes For and says:

  The GUARD Act would: * Ban AI companies from providing AI companions to minors. Read the full bill HERE. Unverified source (2025)

  added 2h ago

  

  Choose a list of delegates

  to vote as the majority of them.

  Unless you vote directly.

  Delegate
• 

  United States Congress

  U.S. federal legislature

  I am this person! Add a sourced quote Report comment

  votes For and says:

  The term “minor” means any individual who has not attained 18 years of age. [...] shall prohibit the minor from accessing or using any AI companion [...]. Unverified source (2025)

  added 2h ago

  

  Choose a list of delegates

  to vote as the majority of them.

  Unless you vote directly.

  Delegate
• 

  Luka, Inc. (Replika)

  AI companion chatbot platform

  I am this person! Add a sourced quote Report comment

  votes For and says:

  Use of Replika by minors If you are under 18, you are not authorized to use the Services, with or without registering. Unverified source (2023)

  added 2h ago

  

  Choose a list of delegates

  to vote as the majority of them.

  Unless you vote directly.

  Delegate
• 

  Stephanie Trendell

  NCOSE policy writer

  I am this person! Add a sourced quote Report comment

  votes For and says:

  minor users will not be allowed to access AI companions [...] Unverified source (2025)

  added 3h ago

  

  Choose a list of delegates

  to vote as the majority of them.

  Unless you vote directly.

  Delegate
• 

  Public Citizen

  Consumer advocacy organization

  I am this person! Add a sourced quote Report comment

  votes For and says:

  the bipartisan GUARD Act, which bans AI corporations from making companion products available to minors [...] Unverified source (2026)

  added 3h ago

  

  Choose a list of delegates

  to vote as the majority of them.

  Unless you vote directly.

  Delegate
• 

  J. B. Branch

  Public Citizen Congress Watch advocate

  I am this person! Add a sourced quote Report comment

  votes For and says:

  The most direct approach would be an outright ban on certain emotionally immersive AI companions for minors, [...] Unverified source (2025)

  added 3h ago

  

  Choose a list of delegates

  to vote as the majority of them.

  Unless you vote directly.

  Delegate
• 

  Karandeep Anand

  CEO of Character.AI

  I am this person! Add a sourced quote Report comment

  votes For and says:

  The thing that would be really sad for the industry is if we make these decisions [to ban users under 18] [...] Unverified source (2025)

  added 3h ago

  

  Choose a list of delegates

  to vote as the majority of them.

  Unless you vote directly.

  Delegate
• 

  Josh Hawley

  U.S. Senator for Missouri

  I am this person! Add a sourced quote Report comment

  votes For and says:

  No AI chatbot companion should be targeted at children who are younger than 18 years of age. Unverified source (2025)

  added 3h ago

  

  Choose a list of delegates

  to vote as the majority of them.

  Unless you vote directly.

  Delegate
• 

  Common Sense Media

  Kids media and tech nonprofit

  I am this person! Add a sourced quote Report comment

  votes For and says:

  these AI tools pose unacceptable risks to children and teens under age 18 and should not be used by minors. Unverified source (2025)

  added 3h ago

  

  Choose a list of delegates

  to vote as the majority of them.

  Unless you vote directly.

  Delegate
• 

  Gaia Bernstein

  Brookings visiting fellow

  I am this person! Add a sourced quote Report comment

  votes For and says:

  The most comprehensive measure protects children from all three harms by banning minors under eighteen from accessing AI companion bots. Unverified source (2025)

  added 3h ago

  

  Choose a list of delegates

  to vote as the majority of them.

  Unless you vote directly.

  Delegate
• 

  Jim Steyer

  Common Sense Media CEO

  I am this person! Add a sourced quote Report comment

  votes For and says:

  they pose unacceptable, well-documented risks to developing minds and should not be used by anyone under 18. Unverified source (2025)

  added 3h ago

  

  Choose a list of delegates

  to vote as the majority of them.

  Unless you vote directly.

  Delegate
• 

  Alex Cardinell

  Founder and CEO, Glimpse.ai

  I am this person! Add a sourced quote Report comment

  votes For and says:

  children should not use Nomi or any other conversational AI app. Nomi is an adult-only app, and it is strictly against our terms of service for anyone under 18 to use Nomi. Accordingly, we support stronger age gating so long as those mechanisms fully... more Unverified source (2025)

  added 3h ago

  

  Choose a list of delegates

  to vote as the majority of them.

  Unless you vote directly.

  Delegate
• 

  Denise Uhl

  Licensed mental health therapist

  I am this person! Add a sourced quote Report comment

  votes For and says:

  I shudder to think of the impact it would have on kids if programmable ‘best friends' were available to the average elementary school child. Put quite simply, AI companions are not safe for anyone under the age of 18. The reality is, kids won't miss ... more Unverified source (2025)

  added 3h ago

  

  Choose a list of delegates

  to vote as the majority of them.

  Unless you vote directly.

  Delegate
• 

  Chris Murphy

  U.S. Senator (D-Connecticut)

  I am this person! Add a sourced quote Report comment

  votes For and says:

  You can’t overstate the harm these AI companion chatbots pose to our kids. Nearly 70 percent of teenagers are turning to chatbots as a substitute for friendship, making them more isolated and disconnected, but what’s even scarier are the stories of c... more Unverified source (2025)

  added 3h ago

  

  Choose a list of delegates

  to vote as the majority of them.

  Unless you vote directly.

  Delegate

Abstain (0)

Against (8)

• 

  Morgan Wilsmann

  Public Knowledge policy advocate

  I am this person! Add a sourced quote Report comment

  votes Against and says:

  Although age restrictions on chatbots designed for erotic or intimate interactions likely meet the “obscene for children” standard from Free Speech Coalition v. Paxton, we oppose wide-ranging age restrictions, as they could hinder both children and a... more Unverified source (2025)

  added 2h ago

  

  Choose a list of delegates

  to vote as the majority of them.

  Unless you vote directly.

  Delegate
• 

  Jarrett Catlin

  State AI policy adviser, TechNet

  I am this person! Add a sourced quote Report comment

  votes Against and says:

  The question with Senate File 1857 is not whether or not kids deserve protection, it’s whether this bill’s approach cuts them off from useful tools. Unverified source (2026)

  added 2h ago

  

  Choose a list of delegates

  to vote as the majority of them.

  Unless you vote directly.

  Delegate
• 

  Computer & Communications Industry Association (CCIA)

  Technology trade association

  I am this person! Add a sourced quote Report comment

  votes Against and says:

  VOTE “NO” ON AB 1064. AB 1064 not only BANS access of anyone under 18 to general-purpose AI or other covered products. Unverified source (2025)

  added 2h ago

  

  Choose a list of delegates

  to vote as the majority of them.

  Unless you vote directly.

  Delegate
• 

  Character Technologies, Inc. (Character.AI)

  AI companion chatbot company

  I am this person! Add a sourced quote Report comment

  votes Against and says:

  If you are under 13 years old OR if you are an EU citizen or resident under 16 years old, do not sign up for the Services – you are not authorized to use them. Unverified source (2023)

  added 2h ago

  

  Choose a list of delegates

  to vote as the majority of them.

  Unless you vote directly.

  Delegate
• 

  Molly Buckley

  EFF legislative analyst

  I am this person! Add a sourced quote Report comment

  votes Against and says:

  The GUARD Act doesn’t give parents a choice—it simply blocks minors from AI companions altogether. Unverified source (2025)

  added 3h ago

  

  Choose a list of delegates

  to vote as the majority of them.

  Unless you vote directly.

  Delegate
• 

  NetChoice

  Online business trade association

  I am this person! Add a sourced quote Report comment

  votes Against and says:

  NetChoice respectfully urges the Committee to oppose SB 5 in its current form. [...] Section 11 prohibits operators from providing AI companions to minors Unverified source (2026)

  added 3h ago

  

  Choose a list of delegates

  to vote as the majority of them.

  Unless you vote directly.

  Delegate
• 

  Alex Ambrose

  Policy analyst at ITIF

  I am this person! Add a sourced quote Report comment

  votes Against and says:

  If it feels like AI companion chatbots are dominating the news cycle, that’s not a hallucination. Policymakers are increasingly concerned that children are forming unhealthy and even potentially dangerous emotional attachments to AI companion chatbot... more Unverified source (2025)

  added 3h ago

  

  Choose a list of delegates

  to vote as the majority of them.

  Unless you vote directly.

  Delegate
• 

  Gavin Newsom

  Governor of California

  I am this person! Add a sourced quote Report comment

  votes Against and says:

  This bill would prohibit making a companion chatbot available to users under 18 years of age, unless the chatbot is not foreseeably capable of certain actions. [...] While I strongly support the author’s goal of establishing necessary safeguards fo... more Unverified source (2025)

  added 3h ago

  

  Choose a list of delegates

  to vote as the majority of them.

  Unless you vote directly.

  Delegate