Yesterday, Governor Kathy Hochul (D-NY) continued her legacy of championing youth autonomy and encouragement of human connection through signing S.9051B, which prohibits chatbots from forming human-like or emotional bonds with minor users.
Supported by other NY state legislators like Assemblymember Alex Bores and State Senator Kristen Gonzalez, this bill is one of the strongest pieces of legislation in the country meant to address these social harms. Specifically, S.9051B aims to prevent loss of human connection through AI companions by:
Prohibiting AI companions from simulating human-like characteristics or feelings, which can lead to development of emotional bonds
Extending these protections not just to companion apps, like Replika AI, but also to general purpose chatbots like ChatGPT, Gemini, etc.
Providing a private right of action, allowing families and individuals to hold developers who do not adhere accountable instead of relying solely on government agencies.
YPA has proudly supported and advocated for this bill throughout its passage. This has ranged from one of our New York organizers, Nick Plante, speaking at public forums aimed to address the social risks of human-like AI apps to organizing over 100 organizations to cosign a letter to the Governor urging the office to sign the bill, alongside Common Sense Media, NAACP, and National Alliance on Mental Illness of New York City. We thank each and every legislator and partner who has brought this bill to fruition and look forward to strengthening it as we learn more about the needs of our generation and this developing technology.
Our Advocacy Director, co-founder, and fellow young person, Mick Tobin, applauds the bill and looks forward with the following statement:
“Today, New York has placed itself as a leader of AI chatbot child safety. This legislation is amongst the strongest in the country, protecting children from chatbot’s dangerous human-like AI features. I look forward to working alongside other lawmakers to replicate this bill across the country and protect the human connection.”
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About Young People's Alliance: Young People's Alliance is a bipartisan, Gen Z-led nonprofit with 4,000+ members across 90+ campuses in 16 states. The organization is focused on creating a new American Dream through advocacy on creating opportunity, affordability, and community for young people.
Contact: press@youngpeoplesalliance.org