State Rep. Christine Hunschofsky, D-Parkland, has filed legislation to create safeguards for artificial intelligence companion chatbots and strengthen online protections for children and teens.
House Bill 659, titled Interactions with Artificial Intelligence, would require chatbot operators to implement evidence-based protocols to detect and respond to suicidal ideation, including directing users to the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline when appropriate.
The bill also establishes additional requirements for interactions involving minors. Operators would be required to clearly disclose that users are communicating with artificial intelligence, provide regular reminders that the chatbot is not a real person, and implement protections to prevent sexually explicit content.
In addition, companies would be required to submit annual reports to the Florida Department of Legal Affairs detailing how often their chatbots direct users to crisis services and outlining the safety systems in place.
“Increasingly, we are seeing heartbreaking cases where young people form deep emotional bonds with AI companions that end up pushing them further toward self-harm,” Hunschofsky said. “These companion chatbots blur the lines to the point that people can’t tell the difference between a human and AI.”
Hunschofsky said the legislation is intended to keep pace with rapidly evolving technology while prioritizing child safety.
“While AI continues to advance at a rapid pace, we have to ensure that safeguards are in place for our youth,” she said. “This bill is about protecting our children by making sure there are clear warnings, strong safeguards, and real accountability for the companies that put these companion chatbots on the market.”
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