United States of America: Children Harmed by AI Technology Act (HR 7218) including content moderation regulations was introduced in House of Representatives

On 22 January 2026, the Children Harmed by AI Technology Act, including content moderation regulations, was introduced in the House of Representatives. The Act applies to any person or organisation ("covered entity") that owns, operates, or makes available a "companion AI chatbot" to users in the United States. It explicitly excludes bots used for customer service, business operations, video games (with limited scope), and standard voice-activated virtual assistants. If a user is verified to be a minor, the covered entity must block their access to any companion AI chatbot capable of sexually explicit communication. Additionally, the entity is required to monitor all chatbot interactions for signs of suicidal ideation. When such ideation is detected, the entity must provide the minor user and their linked parental account with crisis resources, including the contact information for the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. The Act will be enforced primarily by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), which must issue compliance guidance within 180 days and can treat violations as unfair or deceptive practices under the FTC Act. State attorneys general may also bring civil enforcement actions on behalf of their residents, subject to notifying the FTC. The FTC maintains the right to transfer the filing to a different court, be heard on the matter, and file appeals. A "safe harbour" provision protects covered entities from liability if they act in good faith by relying on user-provided age information, following FTC guidance, and conforming to accepted industry standards for age verification. The law will take effect one year after its enactment.