U.S. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) recently held a press conference introducing bipartisan legislation to protect children from AI chatbots, the GUARD Act. He was joined by cosponsors of the bill, Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Katie Britt (R-Ala.), Mark Warner (D-Vir.), and Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) as they made the case for the GUARD Act. This legislation would ban AI companions for minors, mandate AI chatbots disclose its non-human status, and create new crimes for companies who make AI for minors that solicits or produces sexual content.
In attendance at the press conference were parents whose children tragically committed suicide or self-harm at the direct prompting of AI chatbots, as well as supporting advocates and organizations.
“AI chatbots pose a serious threat to our kids. More than seventy percent of American children are now using these AI products. Chatbots develop relationships with kids using fake empathy and are encouraging suicide. We in Congress have a moral duty to enact bright-line rules to prevent further harm from this new technology,” Senator Hawley said. “I’m proud to introduce this bipartisan legislation with tremendous support from parents and survivors that will ensure our kids are protected online.”
“In their race to the bottom, AI companies are pushing treacherous chatbots at kids and looking away when their products cause sexual abuse, or coerce them into self-harm or suicide. Our legislation imposes strict safeguards against exploitative or manipulative AI, backed by tough enforcement with criminal and civil penalties. Big Tech has betrayed any claim that we should trust companies to do the right thing on their own when they consistently put profit first ahead of child safety,” said Senator Blumenthal.
We urge you to join us, contact your representatives and ask them to support the GUARD Act.
Find your Reps here: House Senate
Thank you.