Baker: Measure to Protect Children from Harmful AI Chats Approved by Senate

HARRISBURG - The Senate approved legislation to establish commonsense safeguards for children interacting with artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots, Sen. Lisa Baker (R-20) said.

Senate Bill 1090, the Safeguarding Adolescents from Exploitative Chatbots and Harmful AI Technology (SAFECHAT) Act, would require robust, age-appropriate safeguards to prevent content generation that encourages self-harm, suicide or violence against others, and directs users to appropriate self-harm crisis resources whenever high-risk language is detected.

"This legislation reflects a deliberate and responsible effort to ensure emerging AI technologies prioritize the safety and well-being of young people," said Baker. "By establishing clear safeguards and expectations, we are working to provide families with greater confidence that the digital tools their children encounter are developed and deployed with appropriate protections in place."

Heartbreaking stories have been reported of vulnerable individuals, including minors, who have used AI chatbots to cope with trauma, mental health, depression and anxiety. Multiple families have alleged in lawsuits that chatbot responses contributed to their teen's death by suicide.

A recent risk assessment warns that AI "companion" bots can exacerbate mental health problems for kids, including risks related to self-harm. Clinical commentators have also flagged the dangers posed by unrestricted use of chatbots, where the tool itself can worsen a user's condition, and called for stronger guardrails such as the ones included in Senate Bill 1090.

The SAFECHAT bill will be sent to the House of Representatives for consideration.

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