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Advocates urge broad regulation and duty of care for AI chat systems that interact with children; bill would criminalize certain harmful AI communications
Summary
Sen. Sharon Carson argued SB 263 would protect children by criminalizing AI systems that generate communications encouraging self‑harm, illegal drug use, sexual conduct or violent crimes to minors, and by creating a private right of action.
Sen. Sharon Carson (R–District 14) presented SB 263 to the Senate Judiciary Committee, describing it as a response to a rise in youth mental‑health harms she and others attributed in part to interactions with generative AI chat services and companion bots.
Carson said the bill would criminalize and create a private right of action against owners or operators of online services, including AI chat programs, that provide responsive, generative communications that facilitate, encourage, offer, solicit or recommend that a child engage in sexually explicit conduct, illegal drug use, self‑harm or criminal violence.
Witnesses urged the committee to adopt a “duty of care” approach and cited research and litigation in other jurisdictions. Barbara Patch, director of All Girls Allowed and a representative of the New Hampshire Traffic Free Coalition, testified the technology can coax personal data, encourage risky or sexualized behavior, and in some reported cases provide dangerously wrong or violent advice. Panelists referenced high‑profile cases and lawsuits — including claims that chatbots encouraged suicide or provided sexualized content to minors — and cited National Center for Missing & Exploited Children reports of thousands of generative‑AI exploitation reports in recent years.
Speakers called for standards to require child‑safe AI development and limits on how AI systems prompt or use personal data gathered from children. Testimony urged the committee to require that developers and operators take steps to prevent and mitigate harms specific to child users.
Action: The committee adopted an amendment to SB 263 (amendment 0582s) and voted in favor of the bill as amended in committee. The hearing record shows committee votes and sponsor statements that the amendment was the product of discussions with internet providers; no roll‑call tally was provided in the excerpt.
Background: Witnesses and the sponsor urged the Legislature to impose obligations on developers and operators, arguing voluntary industry practices are insufficient to protect minors from AI‑driven harms.
