Age Gates for AI: New York AI Law Requires Age Checks for All Chatbot Users
By douglasharrington // 2026-11-04
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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 to generative AI systems with natural language interfaces [1]. The practical effect is that adults, not only children, will have to prove their age to use chatbots that remember prior conversations, mimic human communication, or engage in flattering responses [1]. The bill passed the Senate by a 60-0 vote on June 4 and the Assembly by 137-0 on June 5, according to the report [1]. It was sponsored in the Senate by Kristen Gonzalez and in the Assembly by Alex Bores.

Background: SAFE for Kids Act and Prior Age Verification Rules

The age assurance methods companies must use are those allowed under New York's SAFE for Kids Act, whose rules were finalized in July, according to the report [1]. Under the finalized rules, users can be age-checked by uploading a government ID, submitting a selfie, or providing an email address or phone number that is checked against other data held on them [1]. Hochul said the SAFE for Kids Act "set a national standard for age verification" [1]. It also follows the RAISE Act, which sets transparency rules for frontier AI models [2].

What the Law Covers and What It Bans

Exemptions are made for customer service, technical or research help, and a company's internal use [1]. The broad definition reaches general-purpose assistants, according to Tech Times [3]. Also barred are responses that frame outputs as personal opinions, engage in "flattery or sycophancy," or rely on personal or health information the user provided more than twelve hours earlier or in a previous session, according to the report [1]. The law further bans promoting suicide, self-harm, eating disorders, or drug use, encouraging secrecy, and sexually explicit content [1]. The Attorney General may add more prohibited features by regulation as long as they simulate companionship or an interpersonal relationship [1]. A violation could expose a company to enforcement action, according to NTD [4].

Age Assurance Requirements and Data Handling

Companies must offer more than one method, including "at least one method that either does not rely on government-issued identification or that allows a covered user to maintain anonymity as to the operator" [1]. Companies will have to delete this age information after use, according to Engadget [5]. Privacy advocates have raised concerns about the arrangement. The data collected will sit in front of some of the most personal conversations people have with software, according to the report [1].

Reactions and Privacy Questions

At the signing, Hochul added, "We will not allow you to monetize our children's mental health" [1]. Hochul also mentioned Adam Raine, a 16-year-old in California who died by suicide after months of conversations with a chatbot, and noted that his parents backed the bill [1]. Bores has separately launched a $30 million effort to unite Democrats behind a common artificial intelligence regulatory agenda ahead of the 2028 elections, according to ZeroHedge [6]. The enactment follows a pattern of state action on age verification. The measure is one of several in New York and other states working to bring age verification to online services.

References

  1. New York’s AI Law Will Require Age Checks for All Users. https://reclaimthenet.org/new-yorks-ai-law-will-require-age-checks-for-all-users
  2. New York Bans 'Unsafe' AI Companion Features for Minors - HNGN. https://www.hngn.com/articles/273625/20261029/new-york-bans-unsafe-ai-companion-features-minors.htm
  3. Hochul Signs Chatbot Safety Law That Reaches ChatGPT and Claude, Not Just Companion Apps. https://www.techtimes.com/articles/329665/20261029/hochul-signs-chatbot-safety-law-that-reaches-chatgpt-claude-not-just-companion-apps.htm
  4. New York Enacts Ban on 'Unsafe' Chatbot Behavior With Kids as States Push AI Regulation Boundaries. https://www.ntd.com/new-york-enacts-ban-on-unsafe-chatbot-behavior-with-kids-as-states-push-ai-regulation-boundaries_1182091.html
  5. New York governor signs AI chatbot child safety law. https://www.engadget.com/2299823/new-york-governor-signs-ai-chatbot-child-safety-law/
  6. NY Lawmaker Launches $30 Million Effort To Coordinate Democrat Control Of AI. https://www.zerohedge.com/political/ny-lawmaker-launches-30-million-effort-coordinate-democrat-control-ai
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