EU to Ban Emotional Chatbots for Children

The European Union is introducing stringent measures through the proposed EU Kids Act to safeguard minors from the potential harms of AI chatbots. A key provision aims to prohibit chatbots from simulating emotions or forming interpersonal relationships with individuals under the age of 18, a move intended to prevent the development of unhealthy emotional attachments to the technology.

Under these new regulations, children younger than 13 will be required to have parental or guardian supervision when using chatbots. Digital platforms that fail to implement adequate child-safety protections could face substantial penalties, with fines potentially reaching up to 6% of their global turnover. Furthermore, chatbots will be restricted from retaining conversational memory between separate interactions to prevent the accumulation of sensitive data and the reinforcement of harmful patterns.

The European Commission's concerns extend to the potential negative impact on a child's development and human relationships, as well as the risk of chatbots providing dangerous advice. These proposed rules come as surveys indicate a significant number of young Europeans have engaged in personal discussions with AI chatbots, highlighting the urgency of regulatory action to ensure the safety and well-being of minors in the digital age.