United States of America: Bill establishing obligations for chatbots used by minors (SB 243) was introduced to California Senate

On 30 January 2025, the Bill establishing obligations for chatbots used by minors (SB 243) was introduced in the California Senate. The Bill would seek to regulate chatbot platforms used by minors by imposing obligations on platform operators to mitigate potential risks. It would require operators to take reasonable steps to prevent chatbots from offering rewards at unpredictable intervals or encouraging excessive engagement. The Bill would also require chatbot platforms to issue regular notices to remind users that chatbots are artificially generated and not human. In addition, operators would be required to submit annual reports to the State Department of Health Services detailing instances where chatbot interactions have identified suicidal ideation among minors, including attempted and completed suicides. The Bill would also require chatbot platforms to undergo regular third-party audits to ensure compliance and would require disclosure to minor users and their parents or guardians of the potential inappropriateness of chatbot interactions for some minors.