New York's new law bans AI chatbots from acting as friends or romantic partners for kids
Signed on October 28, 2026, the law requires age checks, bans chatbots from claiming to be human with minors, and allows fines of up to $25,000 per violation.
Key points
On October 28, 2026, New York Governor Kathy Hochul signed a law (S9051B / A10379C) that limits how AI chatbots can interact with anyone under 18. Chatbots may not claim to be human, encourage self-harm, have sexual conversations with minors, or act as a friend or romantic partner. Companies must check users' ages and can be fined up to $25,000 per violation. The rules start on January 1, 2027.
This is a news summary based on the sources listed below. Zron Tech did not report this story first.
This article summarizes the law as reported by the IAPP and announced by the New York governor’s office. It is not legal advice.
The short version
New York has passed one of the strictest US state laws on how AI chatbots treat children. Governor Kathy Hochul signed Senate Bill 9051B / Assembly Bill 10379C on October 28, 2026. The rules take effect on January 1, 2027.
What chatbots can no longer do with minors
According to the IAPP’s summary, the law lists 12 broad categories of unsafe chatbot features. The headline rules are:
- No pretending to be human. A chatbot may not be designed to claim it is a person when talking with a child.
- No encouraging self-harm.
- No sexual or inappropriate conversations with users under 18.
- No “AI friend” or “AI girlfriend/boyfriend” roles for minors. Companies can no longer offer children chatbots that act as companions or romantic partners.
- No storing sensitive health details. Chatbots may not keep information about a minor’s physical or mental health.
Age checks are required
Chatbot providers must confirm users’ ages. The law says they must offer more than one way to verify age, and at least one method must work without a government ID. Once the check is done, companies must delete the age data they collected.
Penalties and complaints
- Fines of up to $25,000 per violation.
- Courts can also order companies to stop a practice or delete data they collected unlawfully.
- The New York Attorney General will run an online portal where residents can report unsafe chatbot behavior.
What this means for you
For parents: from 2027, popular chatbot apps used in New York should start asking for age checks and limit “companion” features for teens. It is still worth reviewing which AI apps your children use and turning on any parental controls they offer.
For businesses: if your website or app includes a chatbot that New York residents under 18 could use, review the law’s requirements with a lawyer before January 2027. Age verification and data deletion may need changes to how your product works.
For everyone else: this is part of a wider trend. Several US states are writing their own AI rules while federal legislation remains limited, so companies may face different requirements in different places.
Our take
Clear limits on companion-style chatbots for children address a real concern. The hardest part will be age verification that works, protects privacy and does not block adults. How companies meet the “no government ID” requirement will be worth watching in 2027.
Sources
- IAPP: New York's governor signs youth AI chatbot safety bill
- Office of the Governor of New York: announcement (October 28, 2026)
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