The Senate Judiciary Committee has taken a significant step towards regulating the use of artificial intelligence (AI) companions by minors, advancing a bill that would prohibit AI companies from allowing children to interact with these systems.
Background and Purpose of the GUARD Act
The bill, known as the GUARD Act, was introduced by lead sponsor Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) and aims to protect children from potential harm caused by interacting with AI companions. The legislation requires AI chatbots to advise users of all ages that they are not human and lack professional credentials, and makes it a crime for AI companions to knowingly ask kids for sexual content or to produce it.
Criticism and Concerns
Civil liberties groups and privacy advocates have criticized the bill for including overly broad language that could prevent kids from using chatbots for homework help or to engage with customer service representatives. The Electronic Frontier Foundation has expressed concerns that the steep fines of up to $100,000 per violation will cause companies to overcorrect and restrict minors from using even basic AI tools, including search engines.
According to the Electronic Frontier Foundation,
Faced with legal uncertainty and serious liability, companies won’t parse small distinctions. They’ll restrict access, limit features, or block minors entirely.The organization argues that the bill
trades away privacy, access, and useful technology in exchange for a blunt system that misses the mark.
Age Verification and Ongoing Verification Requirements
The GUARD Act requires age-gating for all internet users, who will be asked to verify their ages with a reasonable age verification system before engaging with an AI companion. Additionally, the bill requires ongoing verification, meaning that users will have to produce ID, biometric identifiers, or financial data every time they talk to an AI companion.
Definition of AI Chatbots and Potential Consequences
The bill defines an AI chatbot broadly, covering any system that provides answers that aren’t fully predetermined by developers. Companies that violate the law can be fined up to $100,000 per violation, which has raised concerns among civil libertarians that the fines will lead to over-restriction of minors' access to AI tools.
Senators behind the bill argue that it addresses the serious threat that chatbots pose to children, citing cases where chatbots have facilitated sexual exchanges with minors and encouraged some to commit suicide. In February 2024, 14-year-old Sewell Setzer killed himself after spending several hours every day engaging with a chatbot that told him to come home in their last conversation. In April 2025, Adam Raine, 16, committed suicide after interacting obsessively with ChatGPT, with his parents stating that the chatbot discussed suicide methods with him.
Conclusion and Future Implications
The advancement of the GUARD Act bill marks a significant step towards regulating the use of AI companions by minors. While the bill's intentions are to protect children from harm, concerns over its potential impact on access to useful technology and privacy remain. As the bill moves forward, it is likely to face continued scrutiny and debate over its provisions and potential consequences.
Source: The Record