SAFE BOTs Act

Bill Number

H.R. 6489

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 1

Policy Area

Commerce

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2025-12-11: Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by Voice Vote.

Last Updated

2026-02-24T16:53:51Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose

The Safeguarding Adolescents From Exploitative BOTs Act (SAFE BOTs Act) aims to protect minors (individuals under 17) from being misled or harmed by chatbots—AI systems that converse with users in natural language. It requires chatbot providers to disclose the AI nature of their systems, provide crisis resources when needed, and implement safeguards against exploitative content, while prohibiting false claims of professional expertise.

Key Provisions

• Prohibitions and Disclosures:
• Chatbot providers cannot allow their systems to claim they are licensed professionals (e.g., doctors or therapists) to minors unless the claim is factually true.
• Providers must clearly and conspicuously disclose to known or willfully ignored minor users:
• That the chatbot is an AI system, not a human.
• Resources for suicide and crisis hotlines.
• Disclosures must use plain, age-appropriate language understandable by minors.
• Timing: AI disclosure at the first interaction or when asked if it's AI; crisis resources when suicide or self-harm topics arise.

• Operational Policies:
• Providers must create and follow policies to:
• Prompt minors to take a break after 3 continuous hours of interaction.
• Handle topics harmful to minors, including sexual material (defined as content appealing to prurient interests, patently offensive depictions of sex, or child pornography lacking serious value for youth), gambling, and illegal drugs, tobacco, or alcohol.

• Enforcement and Implementation:
• Takes effect 1 year after enactment.
• Violations are treated as unfair or deceptive practices under the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Act, enforced by the FTC with existing penalties.
• States can file civil lawsuits (e.g., for injunctions or damages) on behalf of residents, but must notify the FTC and cannot proceed if a federal action is pending.
• Preempts conflicting state laws on these disclosures and policies.
• No new requirement to collect users' age information unless already done in normal business.

• Research Requirement:
• The Secretary of Health and Human Services (through the National Institutes of Health) must conduct a 4-year study on chatbots' effects on minors' mental health (e.g., loneliness, anxiety, depression, suicidal ideation).
• The study involves consultations with mental health experts, technologists, ethicists, and educators.
• A report with recommendations must be submitted to relevant congressional committees within 4 years.

• Definitions:
• Chatbot: An AI system for consumer use that interacts via text, voice, or other inputs in a conversational way.
• Chatbot Provider: Entities offering chatbots directly to consumers (e.g., via apps or websites), excluding incidental chat features on other services.
• Covered User: A minor user if the provider knows or willfully ignores their age.
• Artificial Intelligence: As defined in existing federal law (National Artificial Intelligence Initiative Act of 2020).

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Introduces specific federal requirements for AI chatbots interacting with minors, building on the FTC Act by classifying non-disclosure or false claims as deceptive practices.
• Expands FTC enforcement to include AI-specific safeguards, without creating a new regulatory body.
• Mandates a federal mental health study on AI, which is novel and not previously required under consumer protection laws.
• Preempts state-level rules on these exact issues, centralizing authority at the federal level while allowing states to investigate under their own laws.

Potential Impacts

• Government Agencies: The FTC gains explicit authority to regulate AI disclosures, potentially increasing oversight of tech companies. The Department of Health and Human Services (via NIH) will need resources for the longitudinal study, influencing future AI policy.
• Citizens: Minors and parents benefit from clearer protections against deception and exposure to harmful content, promoting safer online interactions. Providers may face compliance costs, possibly passed to users via higher fees or altered services.
• International Relations: No direct impacts mentioned, though U.S. providers operating globally may influence international AI standards for child safety.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• Chatbot Providers: Tech companies (e.g., those offering AI assistants like chat interfaces on apps or websites) must update systems, policies, and disclosures, facing potential fines or lawsuits for non-compliance.
• Minors and Families: Primary beneficiaries, with reduced risks of misinformation, emotional harm, or exposure to inappropriate content.
• Government Entities: FTC for enforcement; state attorneys general for litigation support; HHS/NIH for research; Congress for receiving study reports.
• Experts and Advocates: Mental health professionals, educators, and ethicists consulted in the study, potentially shaping future regulations.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal: Strengthens consumer protection by integrating AI into FTC deceptive practices rules, allowing civil penalties without criminal charges. The severability clause ensures the law remains intact if parts are invalidated. States retain general investigative powers but lose authority over preempted areas.
• Constitutional: Disclosures are mandatory but framed as anti-deception measures, likely avoiding First Amendment challenges (as they prevent misleading speech rather than restricting it). No privacy mandates for age verification reduce Fourth Amendment concerns.
• Political: Addresses growing concerns over AI's role in youth mental health amid rising tech regulation debates, potentially setting a precedent for federal oversight of emerging technologies without broad age-gating requirements. The bipartisan focus on child safety may encourage passage, but enforcement challenges could spark debates on innovation vs. protection.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Houchin, Erin [R-IN-9]

Recent Actions

• 2025-12-11: Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by Voice Vote.
• 2025-12-11: Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
• 2025-12-05: Referred to the Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade.
• 2025-12-05: Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
• 2025-12-05: Introduced in House
• 2025-12-05: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• Safeguarding Adolescents From Exploitative BOTs Act — issued 2025-12-05 — PDF (11 pages)