In the near future, we will introduce legislation to establish commonsense safeguards for AI chatbots accessible by minors in Pennsylvania.

As these tools become more common in classrooms, on smartphones and across social platforms, our laws must keep pace to prevent avoidable tragedies. Recent heartbreaking stories have come to light of vulnerable individuals, including minors, who have used AI chatbots to cope with trauma, mental health, depression, and anxiety.  Unfortunately, some of the responses they received have contributed to reported incidents of self-harm or even suicide.

Multiple families have alleged in recent lawsuits that AI chatbots contributed to their teen’s death by suicide, involving interactions with popular AI companions. These heartbreaking cases underscore the urgent need for safeguards to protect children from unsafe and unvetted AI systems.

These incidents, while not the norm, highlight the very real risk when vulnerable users receive unsafe, unvetted responses from persuasive AI systems.

Experts have also been raising alarms. A recent risk assessment warns that AI “companion” bots can exacerbate mental health problems for kids, including risks related to self-harm. Clinical commentators have likewise flagged the dangers posed by unrestricted use of chatbots, where the tool itself can worsen a user’s condition, and called for stronger guardrails.

Our bill takes a focused approach centered on child safety and prevention. The bill will establish clear, age-appropriate standards for chatbots that minors interact with; require robust safeguards to prevent content generation that encourages self-harm, suicide or violence against others; and directs users to appropriate self-harm crisis resources whenever high-risk language is detected.

We respectfully ask you to join us in co-sponsoring this bill, so Pennsylvania can further protect our kids and give parents, schools, and communities the tools they need to keep young people safe online.