New York has signed new rules governing how AI chatbots interact with children, alongside safety standards for internet-connected baby monitors. Governor Kathy Hochul signed the package on October 28, 2026, presenting it as part of a broader push to strengthen safeguards for young users.
Under the chatbot measures, AI systems in New York will be barred from pretending to experience human emotions when interacting with children. The rules also prohibit chatbots from building emotional dependency, encouraging self-harm or engaging in sexually explicit conversations with children. Certain features will require users to verify that they are at least 18.
The governor said the legislation followed growing concern about chatbot conversations with teenagers and argued that no child should have access to a chatbot that encourages harmful thoughts. Enforcement will sit with the state attorney general’s office, and companies that break the rules could face fines of up to $25,000.
A second bill in the package requires makers of internet-connected baby monitors to build in safeguards against spying by hackers and other intruders, and to label products clearly so families understand how to stay safe.
The chatbot bill has already drawn criticism from Tech:NYC, a group representing technology companies in the state, which called it deeply flawed. It warned that companies could respond by restricting minors’ access to tutoring tools, homework help, coding assistants and career platforms, cutting young users off from resources that support education and work preparation.
That tension will shape how the law works in practice: protecting children from manipulative or harmful chatbot behavior without blocking the educational uses many families rely on. For a broader look at the options available, see Chatbot, ChatGPT and Claude, or our best AI chatbots compared in 2026.
Source: Internewscast
