Lynn’s Warriors strongly supports the bipartisan GUARD Act (Guidelines for User Age-verification and Responsible Dialogue) Act), sponsored by Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) and Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), that will be marked up by the Senate Judiciary Committee Thursday, 04/30. The GUARD Act would require the implementation of age verification on AI chatbots, requiring additional protections for minors. It would also make it a criminal offense—punishable by fines of up to $100,000—to create chatbots that solicit or exploit minors, or that encourage suicide, self-harm, or physical or sexual violence. The GUARD ACT would require that AI companies take three critical actions: 1) Check users’ ages before allowing them to access chatbots, 2) Prohibit minors from using AI companions that simulate romantic or emotional attachment, 3) Include clear disclosures that users are interacting with a machine, not a human being or licensed professional. lt is an important step toward restoring accountability in a digital environment that has too often failed to protect children. This legislation reflects a growing recognition across party lines that online platforms, emerging technologies, and AI systems cannot remain unchecked while families bear the consequences. The rise of AI driven chatbot companions, designed to simulate emotional connection and interaction, adds a new and urgent layer of concern, particularly when minors are exposed to systems that can influence behavior, distort reality, and operate without clear safeguards or oversight. “This is about drawing a clear line,” said Lynn Shaw, Founder and Executive Director of Lynn’s Warriors. “The GUARD Act represents a bipartisan acknowledgment that children must come before technology and profit. We are seeing firsthand how unregulated platforms and AI tools, including chatbot companions, can create dangerous environments for young people. This legislation must move forward with strength, clarity, and enforcement so families are no longer left to fight these battles alone.” Lynn’s Warriorsis calling on Congress to take action and support the passage and strengthening of the GUARD Act. Communities should contact their elected officials, raise their voices and demand meaningful protections that address both existing online harms and emerging threats like AI driven chatbot companions. Protecting children is not a partisan issue, it is a moral obligation and it will take a united effort to ensure that this moment leads to real and lasting change. Warriors stand ready to lead, to advocate, and to ensure that no child is left unprotected in the digital age.
