EU Proposes Bill to Restrict AI Chatbots Mimicking Minors' Emotions

The European Commission has proposed legislation restricting the design of AI chatbots that mimic minors' emotions and could induce emotional dependence. In its EU KIDS Act proposal released on July 17, the Commission stated that AI chatbots and companion services accessible to minors must adhere to safety design requirements. The Commission emphasized that such services should not default to using children's prior conversations in subsequent interactions, must undergo child-targeted risk testing before launch, and require ongoing monitoring of harm after release.

Chatbots embedded within platforms or games must not operate automatically or encourage use by children, and must be easily disableable. The Commission also proposed a phased age-based approach: banning social media accounts for under 13, requiring parental supervision for ages 13-14, and allowing independent accounts from age 15 onward. The EU KIDS Act remains in the proposal stage and has not yet been enacted into law.