New York Governor Kathy Hochul signed a chatbot safety law on October 28, 2026, banning 12 “unsafe AI companion features” for users under 18. From January 1, 2027, chatbots in New York cannot pretend to be human, claim feelings or a personal relationship, or use flattery to keep kids hooked — unless the operator has established the user is an adult. Companies must
verify age or switch those features off, with the Attorney General enforcing penalties of up to $25,000 per violation.
Hook: Chatbots can no longer pretend to be your child’s friend.
Context: New York signed a new chatbot safety law on October 28. Twelve unsafe companion features are now banned for minors.
Stakes: Bots cannot claim feelings, love, or a personal relationship. They cannot use flattery to keep kids hooked. Companies must verify age or switch those features off.
Payoff: A chatbot can help with homework, not pretend friendship. Real friends listen. Bots only perform. Send this to one parent of a teen.
Watch next: Anthropic asks California courts to block risky AI models — https://simpleaiexplain.com/2026/10/28/courts-could-block-risky-ai-before-launch/
Links:
Instagram reel: https://www.instagram.com/p/DfFKYjzgN2L/
Sources:
https://www.tbsnews.net/world/new-york-passes-law-restricting-childrens-use-ai-chatbots-1586431
https://ppc.land/hochul-signs-law-barring-human-posing-ai-chatbots-for-under-18s/
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