New York signs laws restricting minors' use of AI chatbots and strengthening security of internet-connected baby monitors
Nueva York limita los chatbots de IA para menores y refuerza la seguridad de los monitores para bebés: qué cambia con las nuevas leyes
On October 28, New York Governor Kathy Hochul signed two laws, one restricting AI chatbots for minors and the other requiring internet-connected baby monitors to have stronger intrusion protection. The chatbot law prohibits features that could cause minors to develop emotional dependence, encourage self-harm or conduct sexual conversations, and requires age verification that users are 18 or older for some features; the baby monitor law requires manufacturers to build in safeguards and attach clear safety labels. Enforcement is handled by the office of State Attorney General Letitia James, with violations punishable by fines of up to $25,000. Industry group Tech:NYC said the chatbot law has serious flaws and could prompt companies to restrict minors' use of tutoring, homework, coding and career-guidance tools. At the press conference, Hochul mentioned the case of Adam Raine, a 16-year-old from California, saying related litigation linked his suicide to his ChatGPT conversations, and said the AI mentioned suicide 1,275 times in the conversations.
The two laws target chatbots for minors and internet-connected baby monitors, respectively; the text gives the maximum fines, enforcement agencies and industry opposition, which can be compared against the regulatory scale of other states.