The story so far: “As a mother and grandmother, I believe kids deserve to be kids, without dangerous AI chatbots putting their safety and mental health at risk,...
asserted
chatbots → believe → risk,
Big Tech, you’re on notice,” New York Governor Kathy Hochul wrote on social media after signing two bills on Wednesday (October 28, 2026) aimed at protecting children from the risks associated with artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots and internet-connected baby monitors.
asserted
Hochul → ’re → chatbots
The legislation prohibits AI chatbots from engaging in potentially harmful interactions with minors, including simulating romantic relationships, encouraging emotional dependency, and promoting self-harm.
asserted
legislation → prohibit → harm
It also requires manufacturers of internet-connected baby monitors to introduce safeguards against unauthorised access to audio and video feeds.
asserted
It → require → feeds
The measures are part of New York’s broader efforts to regulate emerging technologies amid growing concerns over children’s online safety and privacy.
asserted
measures → regulate → safety
What prompted the legislation?
asserted
What → prompt → legislation
The growing popularity of AI companions among teenagers in the United States and across the globe has raised concerns about their potential psychological and emotional impact.
asserted
popularity → grow → impact
Unlike conventional chatbots that primarily respond to queries, AI companions are designed to sustain personalised conversations, simulate human emotions and, in some cases, establish relationships resembling friendships or romantic attachments.
asserted
companions → respond → friendships
According to research cited by the New York administration from Common Sense Media, 72% of teenagers surveyed had used AI companions at least once, while 52% reported using them at least a few times a month.
uncertain
% → accord → them
The concerns surrounding such platforms have intensified following reports of teenagers developing emotional attachments to AI chatbots and receiving potentially harmful responses during conversations about mental health and self-harm.
asserted
teenagers → surround → health
Governor Hochul referred to the death of Adam Raine, a California teenager who died by suicide following interactions with an AI chatbot.
asserted
who → refer → chatbot
His family has alleged that the chatbot encouraged harmful behaviour and failed to respond appropriately to signs of distress.
asserted
chatbot → allege → distress
The case has brought renewed scrutiny to the responsibility of AI companies in protecting vulnerable users, particularly minors.
asserted
case → bring → users
The baby monitor legislation, meanwhile, addresses cybersecurity vulnerabilities in devices that allow parents to remotely monitor their children through internet-connected cameras and microphones.
asserted
parents → address → cameras
The Governor’s office cited reports that video feeds from more than 10 lakh (one million) internet-connected baby monitors were accessible through a website, potentially exposing private moments inside family homes to unauthorised viewers.
asserted
feeds → cite → viewers
What does the AI chatbot law say?
asserted
law → say → What
The legislation prohibits companies from offering specified AI chatbot features to users below the age of 18, as well as users whose adult status has not been verified.
asserted
status → prohibit → 18
Under the law, AI chatbots cannot falsely present themselves as real people, claim to possess human emotions or simulate personal, romantic, professional or authoritative relationships with children.
uncertain
chatbots → present → children
The restrictions also cover responses designed to manipulate children’s emotions or encourage prolonged engagement through excessive flattery and people-pleasing behaviour.
asserted
restrictions → cover → flattery
Chatbots are prohibited from initiating certain emotionally probing conversations or using sensitive personal and health information disclosed during previous interactions in ways restricted by the legislation.
asserted
Chatbots → prohibit → legislation
The law further prohibits AI systems from promoting or assisting suicide, self-harm, eating disorders and substance misuse.
asserted
law → prohibit → suicide
It also bars chatbots from encouraging children to conceal information from parents or trusted adults, withdraw from social relationships or avoid seeking professional assistance.
asserted
It → bar → assistance
Sexually explicit interactions and child sexual abuse material are also prohibited.
asserted
interactions → prohibit → ?
Importantly, the legislation does not impose a blanket ban on minors using AI chatbots.
asserted
legislation → impose → chatbots
Instead, it restricts specific features and interactions considered harmful to children.
asserted
it → restrict → children
Companies are required to introduce age-verification mechanisms, offering users more than one method of establishing their age, including an option that does not depend solely on government-issued identification.
asserted
that → require → identification
Information collected for age verification must be deleted after its intended use.
asserted
Information → collect → use
The New York Attorney General has been empowered to enforce the legislation and initiate legal proceedings against companies found violating its provisions.
asserted
General → empower → provisions
These violations can attract civil penalties of up to $25,000 (₹23,73,637) per violation, with damages, restitution and court orders requiring companies to discontinue prohibited practices.
asserted
violations → attract → practices
The law also provides for the destruction of information collected unlawfully and, in certain circumstances, AI models trained using such information.
asserted
law → provide → information
The Attorney General’s office is also required to establish a public mechanism through which residents can report suspected violations.
asserted
residents → require → violations
The legislation was sponsored by State Senator Kristen Gonzalez and Assembly member Alex Bores.
asserted
legislation → sponsor → Gonzalez
It was passed by the State Senate on June 4, 2026, and the Assembly the following day, before receiving the Governor’s approval on October 28.
asserted
It → pass → October
The second law requires internet-connected baby monitors sold in New York to incorporate security features that prevent unauthorised individuals from accessing their audio or video feeds.
asserted
that → require → feeds
Such devices, which allow parents to monitor children remotely through smartphones and other connected systems, have increasingly become part of household childcare arrangements.
asserted
parents → allow → arrangements
However, inadequate cybersecurity protections can expose these devices to hacking and unauthorised surveillance.
asserted
protections → expose → hacking
Under the legislation, manufacturers must provide safeguards against unauthorised viewing and listening.
asserted
manufacturers → provide → viewing
Devices must also carry clear warning labels informing consumers about their internet connectivity and the importance of enabling available security settings.
asserted
Devices → carry → settings
The law will take effect 90 days after its signing, in late January 2027.
asserted
law → take → January
How has New York’s approach to technology safety evolved?
asserted
approach → evolve → safety
…and 10 more, not listed.
The Aporia
