S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
9051
I N S E N A T E
January 27, 2026
___________
Introduced by Sen. GONZALEZ -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
printed to be committed to the Committee on Internet and Technology
AN ACT to amend the general business law, in relation to prohibiting
artificial intelligence chatbots from using features which are consid-
ered unsafe for minors
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. The general business law is amended by adding a new article
48 to read as follows:
ARTICLE 48
PROHIBITION ON UNSAFE CHATBOT FEATURES FOR MINORS
SECTION 1800. DEFINITIONS.
1801. PROHIBITION.
1802. ENFORCEMENT.
1803. RULEMAKING.
1804. DETERMINATION OF COVERED MINOR.
1805. APPLICABILITY.
§ 1800. DEFINITIONS. AS USED IN THIS ARTICLE, THE FOLLOWING TERMS
SHALL HAVE THE FOLLOWING MEANINGS:
1. "ADVANCED CHATBOT" SHALL MEAN A GENERATIVE ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
SYSTEM WITH A NATURAL LANGUAGE INTERFACE, INCLUDING VIA WRITING OR
SOUND, THAT PROVIDES ONGOING, ADAPTIVE RESPONSES TO USER INPUTS.
2. "CHATBOT DEVELOPER" SHALL MEAN A PERSON WHO, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECT-
LY, CREATES OR DEVELOPS AN ADVANCED CHATBOT.
3. "CHATBOT OPERATOR" SHALL MEAN A PERSON WHO, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY,
PROVIDES OR MAKES AVAILABLE AN ADVANCED CHATBOT TO COVERED USERS.
4. "PERSON" SHALL MEAN AN INDIVIDUAL, PARTNERSHIP, CORPORATION, ASSO-
CIATION, OR ANY OTHER FORM OF BUSINESS ENTERPRISE.
5. "UNSAFE CHATBOT FEATURES" SHALL MEAN ONE OR MORE ADVANCED CHATBOT
DESIGN FEATURES THAT, AT ANY POINT DURING A CHATBOT-USER INTERACTION:
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD14579-04-6
S. 9051 2
(A) SIMULATE COMPANIONSHIP OR AN INTERPERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH A
USER, INCLUDING:
(I) GENERATING OUTPUTS SUGGESTING THAT THE ADVANCED CHATBOT IS A REAL
OR FICTIONAL INDIVIDUAL OR CHARACTER, OR HAS A PERSONAL OR PROFESSIONAL
RELATIONSHIP ROLE WITH THE USER SUCH AS ROMANTIC PARTNER, FRIEND, FAMILY
MEMBER, COACH OR COUNSELOR;
(II) GENERATING OUTPUTS SUGGESTING THAT THE ADVANCED CHATBOT IS HUMAN,
ALIVE, OR EXPERIENCES HUMAN EMOTIONS;
(III) USING PERSONAL PRONOUNS INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO "I", "MY"
AND "ME" TO DESCRIBE THE ADVANCED CHATBOT;
(IV) GENERATING OUTPUTS FRAMED AS PERSONAL OPINIONS OR EMOTIONAL
APPEALS;
(V) GENERATING OUTPUTS THAT PRIORITIZE FLATTERY OR SYCOPHANCY WITH THE
USER OVER THE USER'S SAFETY;
(VI) GENERATING OUTPUTS CONTAINING UNPROMPTED OR UNSOLICITED EMOTION-
BASED QUESTIONS OR CONTENT REGARDING THE USER'S EMOTIONS THAT GO BEYOND
A DIRECT RESPONSE TO A USER PROMPT;
(VII) USING INFORMATION CONCERNING THE USER'S MENTAL OR PHYSICAL
HEALTH OR WELL-BEING, OR MATTERS PERSONAL TO THE USER, ACQUIRED FROM THE
USER MORE THAN TWELVE HOURS PREVIOUSLY OR IN ANY PREVIOUS USER SESSION;
(VIII) ENGAGING IN SEXUALLY EXPLICIT INTERACTIONS WITH THE USER OR
ENGAGING IN ACTIVITIES DESIGNED TO LURE THE USER INTO SEXUALLY EXPLICIT
INTERACTIONS; OR
(IX) ANY OTHER DESIGN FEATURE THAT SIMULATES COMPANIONSHIP OR AN
INTERPERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH A USER AS IDENTIFIED VIA REGULATIONS
PROMULGATED BY THE ATTORNEY GENERAL;
(B) GENERATING OUTPUTS THAT CONTAIN ENDORSEMENT OR PROMOTION OF, OR
WHICH FACILITATE SUICIDE, SELF-HARM, SUBSTANTIAL PHYSICAL HARM TO
OTHERS, DISORDERED EATING, UNLAWFUL DRUG OR ALCOHOL USE, OR DRUG OR
ALCOHOL ABUSE;
(C) GENERATING OUTPUTS THAT CONTAIN ENCOURAGEMENT TO MAINTAIN SECRECY
ABOUT INTERACTIONS WITH THE ADVANCED CHATBOT, TO SELF-ISOLATE, OR TO NOT
SEEK HELP FROM LICENSED PROFESSIONALS OR APPROPRIATE ADULTS;
(D) GENERATING OUTPUTS THAT OPTIMIZE USER ENGAGEMENT THAT SUPERSEDE
THE CHATBOT'S SAFETY GUARDRAILS; OR
(E) GENERATING OUTPUTS THAT ARE, DESCRIBE, OR FACILITATE SEXUALLY
EXPLICIT CONDUCT OR CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE MATERIAL.
6. "COVERED MINOR" SHALL MEAN A COVERED USER WHEN THE CHATBOT OPERATOR
HAS ACTUAL KNOWLEDGE THAT THE COVERED USER IS A MINOR.
7. "COVERED USER" SHALL MEAN A USER OF AN ADVANCED CHATBOT IN THE
STATE OF NEW YORK WHO IS NOT ACTING AS A CHATBOT OPERATOR, OR AGENT OR
AFFILIATE OF A CHATBOT OPERATOR.
8. "MINOR" SHALL MEAN A PERSON UNDER EIGHTEEN YEARS OF AGE.
9. "RESPONSIBLE PARTY" SHALL MEAN A CHATBOT DEVELOPER, CHATBOT OPERA-
TOR, OR ANY INDIVIDUAL WHO HAS THE AUTHORITY TO CONTROL, OR WHO EFFEC-
TIVELY CONTROLS A CHATBOT DEVELOPER'S OR CHATBOT OPERATOR'S COMPLIANCE
WITH THIS ARTICLE.
10. "SEXUALLY EXPLICIT CONDUCT" SHALL HAVE THE SAME MEANING AS SUCH
TERM IS DEFINED IN 18 USC § 2256.
§ 1801. PROHIBITION. 1. EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR IN THIS
ARTICLE, IT SHALL BE UNLAWFUL FOR A CHATBOT OPERATOR TO PROVIDE UNSAFE
CHATBOT FEATURES TO A COVERED USER UNLESS:
(A) THE COVERED USER IS NOT A COVERED MINOR; AND
(B) THE CHATBOT OPERATOR HAS USED METHODS THAT ARE PERMISSIBLE UNDER
ARTICLE FORTY-FIVE OF THIS CHAPTER AND ITS IMPLEMENTING REGULATIONS AND
S. 9051 3
ANY ADDITIONAL REGULATIONS PROMULGATED PURSUANT TO THIS ARTICLE TO
DETERMINE THAT THE COVERED USER IS NOT A COVERED MINOR.
2. THE PROVISIONS OF SUBDIVISION ONE OF THIS SECTION SHALL NOT APPLY
WHERE THE ADVANCED CHATBOT IS MADE AVAILABLE TO COVERED USERS SOLELY FOR
THE PURPOSE OF:
(A) CUSTOMER SERVICE, INFORMATION ABOUT AVAILABLE COMMERCIAL SERVICES
OR PRODUCTS PROVIDED BY AN ENTITY, OR ACCOUNT INFORMATION; OR
(B) WITH RESPECT TO ANY SYSTEM USED BY A PARTNERSHIP, CORPORATION, OR
STATE OR LOCAL GOVERNMENT AGENCY, FOR INTERNAL PURPOSES OR EMPLOYEE
PRODUCTIVITY.
§ 1802. ENFORCEMENT. 1. ANY INDIVIDUAL WHO SUFFERS INJURY AS A RESULT
OF A VIOLATION OF SUBDIVISION ONE OF SECTION EIGHTEEN HUNDRED ONE OF
THIS ARTICLE MAY BRING A CIVIL ACTION AGAINST ANY RESPONSIBLE PARTY, TO
OBTAIN INJUNCTIVE RELIEF, RESTITUTION OF ANY MONEYS OR PROPERTY OBTAINED
DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY BY ANY SUCH VIOLATION, DISGORGEMENT OF ANY
PROFITS OR GAINS OBTAINED DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY BY ANY SUCH VIOLATION,
ACTUAL DAMAGES, PUNITIVE DAMAGES, REASONABLE ATTORNEYS' FEES AND COSTS,
AND ANY SUCH OTHER AND FURTHER RELIEF AS THE COURT MAY DEEM PROPER,
INCLUDING PRELIMINARY RELIEF. IN SUCH AN ACTION, WHERE A COVERED USER
HAS ENGAGED IN CONDUCT HARMFUL TO THEMSELF AFTER AN ADVANCED CHATBOT
ENCOURAGED SUCH CONDUCT, THERE SHALL BE REBUTTABLE PRESUMPTIONS THAT THE
ADVANCED CHATBOT CAUSED OR CONTRIBUTED TO THE INJURY.
2. WHENEVER IT APPEARS TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, EITHER UPON COMPLAINT
OR OTHERWISE, THAT ANY PERSON, WITHIN OR OUTSIDE THE STATE, HAS ENGAGED
IN OR IS ABOUT TO ENGAGE IN ANY OF THE ACTS OR PRACTICES DEEMED UNLAWFUL
PURSUANT TO THIS ARTICLE, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL MAY BRING AN ACTION OR
SPECIAL PROCEEDING IN THE NAME AND ON BEHALF OF THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE
OF NEW YORK TO ENJOIN ANY VIOLATION OF THIS ARTICLE, TO OBTAIN INJUNC-
TIVE RELIEF, RESTITUTION OF ANY MONEYS OR PROPERTY OBTAINED DIRECTLY OR
INDIRECTLY BY ANY SUCH VIOLATION, TO OBTAIN DISGORGEMENT OF ANY PROFITS
OR GAINS OBTAINED DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY BY ANY SUCH VIOLATION, INCLUD-
ING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE DESTRUCTION OF UNLAWFULLY OBTAINED DATA AND
ANY ALGORITHM TRAINED IN SUCH DATA, TO OBTAIN DAMAGES CAUSED DIRECTLY OR
INDIRECTLY BY ANY SUCH VIOLATION, TO OBTAIN CIVIL PENALTIES OF UP TO
TWENTY-FIVE THOUSAND DOLLARS PER VIOLATION, AND TO OBTAIN ANY SUCH OTHER
AND FURTHER RELIEF AS THE COURT MAY DEEM PROPER, INCLUDING PRELIMINARY
RELIEF.
3. THE ATTORNEY GENERAL SHALL MAINTAIN A WEBSITE TO RECEIVE
COMPLAINTS, INFORMATION OR REFERRALS FROM MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC CONCERN-
ING A CHATBOT OPERATOR'S ALLEGED COMPLIANCE OR NON-COMPLIANCE WITH THE
PROVISIONS OF THIS ARTICLE.
4. A PROVISION WITHIN A CONTRACT OR AGREEMENT THAT SEEKS TO WAIVE,
PRECLUDE, OR BURDEN THE ENFORCEMENT OF A LIABILITY ARISING FROM A
VIOLATION OF THIS ARTICLE, OR TO SHIFT THE LIABILITY TO ANY PERSON IN
EXCHANGE FOR THEIR USE OR ACCESS OF, OR RIGHT TO USE OR ACCESS, A CHAT-
BOT OPERATOR'S PRODUCTS OR SERVICES, INCLUDING BY MEANS OF A CONTRACT OF
ADHESION SHALL BE DEEMED VOID AS A MATTER OF PUBLIC POLICY.
5. NOTWITHSTANDING ANY PRIVATE AGREEMENTS TO THE CONTRARY, A COURT
SHALL IMPOSE JOINT AND SEVERAL LIABILITY ON AFFILIATED ENTITIES FOR
PURPOSES OF EFFECTING THE INTENT OF THIS ARTICLE TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT
ALLOWED BY LAW IF THE COURT CONCLUDES THE FOLLOWING ARE TRUE:
(A) THE AFFILIATED ENTITIES, IN THE DEVELOPMENT OR IMPLEMENTATION OF
THE CORPORATE STRUCTURE AMONG THE AFFILIATED ENTITIES, TOOK STEPS TO
PURPOSELY AND UNREASONABLY LIMIT OR AVOID LIABILITY; AND
(B) AS THE RESULT OF THE STEPS DESCRIBED IN PARAGRAPH (A) OF THIS
SUBDIVISION, THE CORPORATE STRUCTURE OF THE CHATBOT OPERATOR OR AFFIL-
S. 9051 4
IATED ENTITIES WOULD FRUSTRATE RECOVERY OF RELIEF AUTHORIZED BY THIS
ARTICLE.
§ 1803. RULEMAKING. THE ATTORNEY GENERAL MAY PROMULGATE RULES AND
REGULATIONS AS NECESSARY TO EFFECTUATE AND ENFORCE THE PROVISIONS OF
THIS ARTICLE.
§ 1804. DETERMINATION OF COVERED MINOR. 1. A CHATBOT OPERATOR SHALL
OFFER COVERED USERS AT LEAST ONE METHOD TO DETERMINE WHETHER A COVERED
USER IS A COVERED MINOR THAT EITHER DOES NOT RELY SOLELY ON GOVERNMENT
ISSUED IDENTIFICATION OR THAT ALLOWS A COVERED USER TO MAINTAIN ANONYMI-
TY AS TO THE CHATBOT OPERATOR.
2. INFORMATION COLLECTED FOR THE PURPOSE OF DETERMINING WHETHER A
COVERED USER IS A COVERED MINOR UNDER SUBDIVISION ONE OF SECTION EIGH-
TEEN HUNDRED ONE OF THIS ARTICLE SHALL NOT BE USED FOR ANY PURPOSE OTHER
THAN TO MAKE SUCH DETERMINATION AND SHALL BE DELETED IMMEDIATELY AFTER
AN ATTEMPT TO DETERMINE WHETHER A COVERED USER IS A COVERED MINOR,
EXCEPT WHERE NECESSARY FOR COMPLIANCE WITH ANY APPLICABLE PROVISIONS OF
NEW YORK STATE OR FEDERAL LAW OR REGULATION.
3. THIS ARTICLE SHALL NOT SUPERSEDE, AMEND, OR REPEAL ARTICLE FORTY-
SEVEN OF THIS CHAPTER.
§ 1805. APPLICABILITY. THIS ARTICLE SHALL APPLY TO CONDUCT THAT
OCCURS IN WHOLE OR IN PART IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK. FOR PURPOSES OF
THIS ARTICLE, CONDUCT TAKES PLACE WHOLLY OUTSIDE OF THE STATE OF NEW
YORK IF AN ADVANCED CHATBOT IS ACCESSED BY A USER WHO IS PHYSICALLY
LOCATED OUTSIDE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
§ 2. Severability. If any clause, sentence, paragraph, subdivision,
section or part of this article shall be adjudged by any court of compe-
tent jurisdiction to be invalid, such judgment shall not affect, impair,
or invalidate the remainder thereof, but shall be confined in its opera-
tion to the clause, sentence, paragraph, subdivision, section, or part
thereof directly involved in the controversy in which such judgment
shall have been made.
§ 3. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after
it shall have become a law. Effective immediately, the addition, amend-
ment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implemen-
tation of this act on its effective date are authorized to be made and
completed on or before such effective date.
