On 28 October 2026, New York Governor Kathy Hochul signed a law barring AI chatbots from offering minors features that simulate human feelings, a personal or romantic relationship, or an authority role, and from claiming to be a friend, boyfriend or girlfriend, according to Newsday reporting on the AFP wire and Taiwan's Central News Agency. The law takes effect 1 January 2027.
Operators such as OpenAI must verify a user's age through multiple methods — at least one not relying solely on a government ID — and block the restricted features for under-18s. Violations can draw civil penalties of up to $25,000 per infraction plus destruction of unlawfully collected data. Common Sense Media called it the strongest kids' AI safety bill in the US; the tech industry pushed back on the breadth of the language.
The measure reaches both companion apps such as Replika and Character.AI and general assistants like ChatGPT, sitting alongside California's SB 243 and the EU AI Act as part of a widening global map — tracked in our 2026 industry report.