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Age Gates for AI: New York AI Law Requires Age Checks for All Chatbot Users

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul signed a bill into law on Oct. 28 that bans certain artificial intelligence (AI) companion features for minors and requires companies to verify the age of every user before granting access to covered chatbot systems, according to the governor’s office [1]. The measure takes effect January 1, 2027, and applies […]

Truvace record2 min read1 sourceEvidence: Moderate · 62/100 — Regulatory or legal action · 1 independent sourceJournalismTRV-2026-2382 · cite or check it
Age Gates for AI: New York AI Law Requires Age Checks for All Chatbot Users

In brief

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul signed a law on Oct. 28 that bans certain AI companion features for minors and requires companies to verify the age of every user before granting access to covered chatbots. It takes effect January 1, 2027, and applies to generative AI systems with natural language interfaces.

The rule reaches beyond children: adults must also prove their age to use chatbots that remember earlier conversations, mimic human communication or respond with flattery. Tech Times reported that the broad definition reaches general-purpose assistants. Privacy advocates have objected to the data collection involved.

Hochul tied the measure to child safety, citing Adam Raine, a 16-year-old in California who died by suicide after months of conversations with a chatbot. His parents backed the bill. The Attorney General can add more prohibited features by regulation, so the final scope of the ban may widen.

Main points

  1. The bill passed the New York Senate 60-0 on June 4 and the Assembly 137-0 on June 5.
  2. Companies must use age assurance methods allowed under the SAFE for Kids Act, whose rules were finalized in July.
  3. Accepted checks include uploading a government ID, submitting a selfie, or giving an email address or phone number checked against other data.
  4. Companies must offer at least one method that does not rely on government ID or that lets users stay anonymous to the operator.
  5. Banned behaviors include promoting suicide, self-harm, eating disorders or drug use, encouraging secrecy, and sexually explicit content.
  6. Covered chatbots may not use personal or health information the user gave more than twelve hours earlier or in a previous session.
  7. Customer service, technical or research help, and a company's internal use are exempt.
  8. Engadget reported that companies will have to delete age information after use.

The problem

Under a New York law taking effect January 1, 2027, adults as well as children must prove their age before using chatbots that remember past conversations or mimic human communication, and privacy advocates say the collected data will sit in front of highly personal conversations.

The full story

The law was sponsored by Kristen Gonzalez in the Senate and Alex Bores in the Assembly, and passed both chambers unanimously in early June. It follows the RAISE Act, which sets transparency rules for frontier AI models, and builds on the SAFE for Kids Act, which Hochul said set a national standard for age verification.

Covered chatbots are barred from framing outputs as personal opinions, engaging in flattery or sycophancy, or relying on personal or health information supplied more than twelve hours earlier or in a prior session. The Attorney General may add more prohibited features by regulation if they simulate companionship or an interpersonal relationship. NTD reported that a violation could expose a company to enforcement action.

At the signing Hochul said, "We will not allow you to monetize our children's mental health." Separately, Bores has launched a $30 million effort to unite Democrats behind a common AI regulatory agenda ahead of the 2028 elections, according to ZeroHedge.

Sources

  1. JournalismNatural News2026-11-04

The debate