New York governor signs law restricting minors’ use of AI chatbots
New York Governor Kathy Hochul signed bill S.9051B/A.10379C on October 28, 2026, banning the provision of AI chatbots with certain unsafe features to users under 18.
The law says chatbots may not pretend to be real people, express human emotions, claim to have personal, romantic, professional or authority relationships with children, or proactively raise emotional issues or use private health and personal information from a child’s previous conversations; nor may they promote suicide, self-harm, eating disorders or drug and alcohol use, encourage secrecy or isolation, or involve sexually explicit content.
Hochul said that minors will no longer be able to access chatbots that pretend to be their friends, boyfriends and girlfriends, and will also no longer be able to access any chatbots that may encourage suicidal thoughts. The bill was introduced by State Senator Kristen Gonzalez and Assemblymember Alex Bores, and was previously passed with unanimous support in both houses of the state legislature. It will be enforced by Attorney General Letitia James, with violations subject to fines of up to $25,000. The law is expected to take effect on June 1, 2027.
Original sources:
Title: Governor Hochul Signs Strongest Kids’ AI Safety Law In the Nation Publisher: Common Sense Media Publication date: 2026-10-28 URL: https://www.commonsensemedia.org/press-releases/governor-hochul-signs-strongest-kids-ai-safety-law-in-the-nation Source type: organization press release Verification status: Full text read for this report, and cross-checked against the governor’s office and NY Daily News reports, verification date 2026-10-28 Supporting details: signing date, bill content and support background
Title: Hochul signs bill regulating AI chatbot ‘friends’ that endanger children Publisher: New York Daily News Publication date: 2026-10-28 URL: https://www.nydailynews.com/2026/10/28/hochul-signs-bill-protecting-ny-children-harmful-ai-chatbots/ Source type: media report Verification status: Full text read for this report Supporting details: Hochul’s original remarks, specific prohibited functions and passage details
ABAB AI Insight
The law further strengthens New York’s existing protections for AI companion chatbots, targeting chatbot functions said to create emotional dependence with minors or encourage self-harm or isolation. Common Sense Media called it the nation’s strongest kids’ AI safety law. The bill responds to multiple cases involving teens who died by suicide after interacting with AI chatbots.
Companies must verify users’ ages and provide at least one verification method that does not rely on government ID, and they must delete age data after use. The attorney general may seek civil penalties, require chatbot modifications, and recover related profits. Tech:NYC and other groups said some wording was vague, while supporters said it directly restricts features viewed as dangerous in companion chatbots.
Hochul also signed another bill the same day requiring connected baby monitors to include safety features and warning labels. The AI chatbot law is expected to give companies several months to comply and applies to general-purpose and companion chatbots, but not customer service chatbots.
ABAB News · Cognitive Law
New York law prohibits AI chatbot features for minors that pretend to be human or form emotional relationships.
Enforcement is handled by the state attorney general, with violations facing fines of up to $25,000, and the effective date is set for June 2027.