AI Chatbots: Protecting Kids from Addictive Features
A house committee must act next: committee consideration.
This bill is currently supported only by Democrats and faces a long road through committees where tech industry groups often have a lot of influence.
Scores run from -100 (strongly harmful) to +100 (strongly beneficial) for each group, combining impact, certainty, scope, and duration ratings of 1-5. How impact scoring works
Any company or person that makes an AI chatbot available to minors, including smaller app developers, must redesign products to remove banned features, verify user age, and delete age data within 24 hours, or face fines. Refusing to share research data with universities can trigger penalties up to $10 million per violation, and violating the design ban costs $5,000 per incident.
“The Attorney General shall assess a civil penalty against a covered entity in an amount of not more than $10,000,000 for each violation of subsection (a).”
Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committee on Education and Workforce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Sent to a congressional committee for expert review. The committee decides whether this bill moves forward.
Introduced in House
The bill was officially filed and given a number. It now enters the legislative queue.
The Addictive Design Act targets AI chatbot features deemed addictive for users under 18, including human impersonation and long conversations. It proposes civil penalties of $5,000 per affected minor and creates a task force to study mental health risks like self-harm and emotional attachment.
Representative Becca Balint's new bill would prohibit AI companies from using 'addictive' design elements for children, such as typing indicators and avatars. The legislation also authorizes millions in funding for scientific research and parent outreach programs.
A new US legislative proposal, the Addictive Design Act, aims to prevent AI chatbots from fostering compulsive use among teenagers. The bill requires tech firms to share data with university researchers or face $10 million fines, while establishing a group of experts to monitor emotional risks.
No votes or related bills recorded for this bill yet.
Document Type
Congressional Bill
Official Title
Addictive Design Act of 2026
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