South Carolina lawmakers are moving to draw firmer lines around artificial intelligence chatbots used by children, as concerns grow over emotional dependence, privacy and the widening role the technology is playing in teenagers’ lives. Speaking in Columbia, Sen. Matt Leber said the state should not leave young users without guardrails as AI becomes more common in everyday settings, from homework help to conversation and support. Pew Research Center has found that a majority of U.S. teens now use AI chatbots, with a notable share turning to them regularly and some using them for emotional support.

The proposed legislation would curb chatbots from offering emotional advice to minors or engaging in extended conversations with them, while also tightening limits on the data AI platforms can collect and sell. Users would need to give clear permission before a service could store their information or unlock broader access. Leber argued the measures are intended to keep companies from designing systems that could be harmful or manipulative, while critics of unregulated chatbot use warn that robotic validation can distort a teenager’s understanding of empathy and real-world relationships.

The push, however, is already drawing pushback from business and banking groups that rely on customer-service bots. Kristina Hinson of the South Carolina Retail Association said exceptions are needed so companies can continue to offer fast, efficient service without forcing customers through extra account steps. Lawmakers have not yet voted on either bill, saying they want to adjust the language to avoid unintended consequences before the measures return to committee for another hearing.

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Source: Noah Wire Services