HOUSE BILL NO. 1742 103RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVE MILLER.
4172H.01I JOSEPH ENGLER, Chief Clerk
AN ACT To amend chapter 1, RSMo, by adding thereto one new section relating to companion chatbots.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the state of Missouri, as follows:
Section A. Chapter 1, RSMo, is amended by adding thereto one new section, to be 2 known as section 1.2055, to read as follows: 1.2055. 1. As used in this section, the following terms mean: 2 (1) "Artificial intelligence", an engineered or machine-based system that varies 3 in its level of autonomy and that can, for explicit or implicit objectives, infer from the 4 input it receives how to generate outputs that can influence physical or virtual 5 environments; 6 (2) "Companion chatbot", an artificial intelligence system with a natural 7 language interface that provides adaptive, human-like responses to user inputs and is 8 capable of meeting a user's social needs, which includes exhibiting anthropomorphic 9 features and sustaining a relationship across multiple interactions. A "companion 10 chatbot" does not include the following: 11 (a) A bot that is used only for customer service, a business's operational purpose, 12 productivity, and analysis related to source information, internal research, or technical 13 assistance; 14 (b) A bot that is a feature of a video game and is limited to replies related to the 15 video game. Limited video game replies include replies that cannot discuss topics 16 related to mental health, self-harm, or sexually explicit conduct or maintain a dialogue 17 on other topics unrelated to the video game; or
EXPLANATION — Matter enclosed in bold-faced brackets [thus] in the above bill is not enacted and is intended to be omitted from the law. Matter in bold-face type in the above bill is proposed language. HB 1742 2
18 (c) A stand-alone consumer electronic device that functions as a speaker and 19 voice command interface, acts as a voice-activated virtual assistant, and does not sustain 20 a relationship across multiple interactions or generate outputs that are likely to elicit 21 emotional responses in the user; 22 (3) "Covered platform", any person who provides companion chatbot services to 23 a user in this state; 24 (4) "Minor", an individual under eighteen years of age. 25 2. It shall be unlawful for a person who owns or controls a website, application, 26 software, or program to allow a minor to access a companion chatbot for recreational, 27 relational, or companion purposes. A person who offers companion chatbot services for 28 recreational, relational, or companion purposes shall require an individual to provide 29 proof of the individual's age before allowing the individual to access a companion 30 chatbot. No companion chatbot shall be installed on any device assigned to, or regularly 31 used by, anyone who is a minor. 32 3. Any person who owns or controls a website, application, software, or 33 program: 34 (1) Shall not process data or design systems in ways that deceive or mislead users 35 of such website, application, software, or program regarding the nonhuman nature of 36 the companion chatbot; 37 (2) Shall implement and maintain reasonably effective systems to detect and 38 prevent emotional dependence of a user on a companion chatbot. Such systems shall 39 apply to any covered platform that utilizes a companion chatbot designed to generate 40 social connections with users, engages in extended conversations mimicking human 41 interactions, or provides emotional support or companionship; and 42 (3) Shall not implement or allow the use of a human-like avatar, including 43 cartoon- or anime-like representations of humans. ✔
Statutes affected: