{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases/schatz-cruz-introduce-new-bill-to-protect-kids-on-ai-chatbot-platforms", "Schatz, Cruz Introduce New Bill To Protect Kids On AI Chatbot Platforms", "2026-04-28", "2026", "2026-04", "Democrat", "Senate", "HI", "Brian Schatz", "S001194", "www.schatz.senate.gov", "schatz", "https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senate Commerce Committee Chairman Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai\u2018i) today introduced the CHATBOT Act, legislation that would put parents, not Big Tech, in charge of how children interact with AI chatbots and require higher safety safeguards for young users.\n\nWhile AI chatbots can support a child\u2019s learning, research, and creativity, they also pose real risks to minors, including exposure to inappropriate content, language, and addictive features. Some AI companies have even deployed rewards, notifications, and targeted advertising to drive prolonged engagement by adolescent users.\n\nThe Children\u2019s Health, Advancement, Trust, Boundaries, and Oversight in Technology Act, or CHATBOT Act, would require AI companies to establish \u201cfamily accounts\u201d for parents to manage access and usage of AI chatbots by their children. Safety features provided under family accounts would, by default, be set to the most protective settings. Family accounts would be required for users under 13 and optional for teen users. For teen users that are not connected to a family account, safeguards would be fixed to the most protective settings. AI chatbots platforms would limit manipulative design features; require parental consent for chatbot usage; and prohibit targeted advertising to children. In addition, the bill would direct further study on potential chatbot-related harms to children and best practices for parents.\n\nUpon introduction, Chairman Cruz said: \u201cThe rapid development of sophisticated chatbots has left many parents in the dark as powerful AI systems enter children\u2019s lives. Congress has an opportunity to put parents back in control. With the right safeguards, AI systems can benefit a child\u2019s education without putting their well-being at risk. The CHATBOT Act ensures America leads in deploying AI safely and responsibly.\u201d\n\nSenator Schatz said: \u201cAI is an incredibly powerful tool \u2013 it\u2019s everywhere, and it poses real risks for kids. We\u2019ve seen reports of AI chatbots encouraging kids to hurt themselves and for some, they\u2019re replacing real life relationships, isolating kids from their families and friends. Our bill will give parents better tools to keep their kids safe and hold AI companies accountable.\u201d\n\nSenator Curtis said: \u201cParents deserve both clarity and control over how their children interact with AI chatbots, which are becoming more integrated into their education and everyday lives,\u201d said Senator Curtis. \u201cOur bipartisan bill provides commonsense guardrails that prioritize kids\u2019 safety, limit manipulative design, and help ensure that parents\u2014not algorithms\u2014hold the reins.\u201d\n\nSenator Schiff said: \u201cIt is essential that we institute commonsense guardrails on the use of AI chatbots by children and teenagers that empower parents' ability to protect their kids. In California and across the country, we have seen firsthand the tragic consequences of quickly evolving AI chatbots which, in the worst cases, have encouraged self-harm, emotional dependency, violence, and exploitation of the youngest Americans. This moment demands action to protect children\u2019s health and safety online, and I\u2019m proud to join Senators Cruz, Schatz, and Curtis in introducing this bipartisan legislation as a first step towards that goal.\u201d\n\nRead the one-pager on this legislation HERE.\n\nRead the full text of this legislation HERE.\n\nThe following groups are supportive of the legislation: 3Strands Global Foundation, America First Policy Institute, Americans for Responsible Innovation (ARI), American Counseling Association, American Federation of Teachers, American Principles Project, Bull Moose Project, Citizens for Renewing America, Concerned Women for America Legislative Action Committee, David\u2019s Legacy Foundation, Digital Progress Institute, Enough is Enough, HSA Coalition, Interparliamentary Taskforce on Human Trafficking, NCOSE, Pearl at the Mailbox, and Street Grace.\n\nFind a full list of supporting statements HERE.\n\n###", 1, "2026-04-30T06:05:15Z", "2026-04-30T06:07:09Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.schatz.senate.gov/news/press-releases/schatz-cruz-introduce-new-bill-to-protect-kids-on-ai-chatbot-platforms"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.1106287129223347, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}