How Governor Hochul, NYS lawmakers, are proposing to expand restrictions on Chatbots, AI

https://cbs6albany.com/news/local/how-governor-hochul-nys-lawmakers-are-proposing-to-expand-restrictions-on-chatbots-ai-artificial-intelligence-children-kids-roblox-common-sense-media-safe-for-kids-kathy-gonzalez-exploitation

Publish Date: 2026-02-06 22:37:00

Source Domain: cbs6albany.com

Expansion of AI Regulations in New York: New York Governor Kathy Hochul is proposing to expand existing regulations on AI chatbots, particularly to better protect children and enhance online safety for young users.
SAFE for Kids Act Amendments: The proposed measures include revisions to the SAFE for Kids Act, introducing stringent privacy settings, stronger age verification, and limiting AI chatbot features to prevent exploitative or harmful interactions with children.
Collaboration with Advocacy Groups: The proposal includes input and partnership with organizations like Common Sense Media, which focuses on advocating for media recommendations and safety advice for families.
Prohibition of Emotional Connections: New bill S9051 aims to prevent chatbots from forming emotional connections with children, prohibiting outputs that suggest the chatbot has personal experiences or relationships with the user.
Combatting Child Exploitation: Proposals emphasize strengthening regulations to identify users’ ages and prevent them from accessing inappropriate content, addressing concerns about child exploitation on platforms like Roblox.
Legal and Regulatory Enforcement: The Attorney General is tasked with implementing regulations to help ensure age identification, with strict accountability measures in place for non-compliance by tech companies.
Governor’s Determination: Governor Hochul is committed to passing these regulations voluntarily or through strict enforcement as necessary, to guarantee the safety and well-being of New York’s children online.