Houchin Bills to Protect Children from AI Dangers Pass Energy & Commerce Committee

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Yesterday, the House Energy and Commerce Committee passed H.R. 7757, the Kids Internet and Digital Safety (KIDS) Act, a sweeping legislative package to protect children online. Included in the legislation are two bills authored by Congresswoman Erin Houchin (IN-09): the AI Warnings and Resources for Education (AWARE) Act and the Safeguarding Adolescents From Exploitative BOTs (SAFEBOTs) Act.

The KIDS Act addresses some of the most pressing dangers children face online today. The legislation shields minors from obscene content, strengthens parental controls, bans ephemeral messaging for minors, prohibits targeted market research on children, and establishes safeguards for online gaming platforms. It also invests in research and education to better understand and address the harms children face in the digital world.

"Protecting kids online is one of the most urgent challenges we face in today's digital age," said Rep. Houchin. "I have visited with parents who have lost their children to the harms of these platforms - and it is clear the current system is not just broken, it's unhealthy and can be dangerous. Thirteen years old is far too young for kids to be treated as adults in their online lives, but that is the current standard. Without these reforms, parents are outmatched by new technology powered by Big Tech. Parents and kids deserve an internet ecosystem that puts their safety and wellbeing first with parents clearly in the driver's seat. Yesterday's vote is a win for American families. I am proud to see these bills move forward, and I won't stop fighting until they are signed into law."

The AWARE Act directs the Federal Trade Commission to develop and make publicly available educational resources for parents, educators, and minors on the risks and benefits of AI chatbot use, privacy and data collection practices, and best practices for keeping children safe when interacting with AI companions.

The SAFEBOTs Act builds on that framework by requiring chatbot providers to clearly disclose to minors when they are interacting with an artificial intelligence system and not a real person. The bill also prohibits AI chatbots from falsely claiming to be licensed professionals such as doctors or therapists, requires crisis hotline information to be provided when a minor raises the topic of suicide or self-harm, and mandates break prompts after extended chatbot sessions. The bill requires reasonable policies to prevent minors from accessing sexual content, gambling, and illegal substances through AI chatbot platforms.

As co-chair of the Kids Online Safety Caucus, Congresswoman Houchin has been one of the leading voices in Congress on protecting children in the digital age. She has worked alongside renowned social psychologist and bestselling author Jonathan Haidt, whose research on the harmful effects of social media on children has helped shape the national conversation on this issue.

The KIDS Act now advances to the full House of Representatives for consideration.

Read the full bill text here.

Watch Rep. Houchin speak in the committee here.