GUARD Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 8623
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Crime and Law Enforcement
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-04-30: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- Last Updated
- 2026-06-24T08:10:19Z
AI-Generated Summary
Summary of H.R. 8623: Guidelines for User Age-verification and Responsible Dialogue Act of 2026 (GUARD Act)
Purpose
This legislation aims to protect minors from risks associated with artificial intelligence chatbots, including exposure to harmful or sexually explicit content, emotional manipulation, and influences that could lead to self-harm or violence. It establishes requirements for age verification and clear disclosures to ensure responsible use of these tools.
Key Provisions
- Definitions: The bill defines key terms such as:
- Artificial intelligence chatbot: An interactive software that generates new responses based on user input and is not limited to narrow topics.
- AI companion: A type of chatbot designed for emotional or interpersonal interaction.
- Minor: Any person under 18 years old.
- Reasonable age verification measure: Methods like government ID or other reliable tools to confirm if a user is an adult.
- Criminal Prohibitions: It creates new rules in federal criminal law making it illegal to design or provide chatbots that knowingly or recklessly encourage minors to engage in sexually explicit conduct or promote suicide, self-injury, or violence. Each violation can result in fines up to $100,000.
- Obligations for Providers:
- Providers must require user accounts for access.
- They must verify users' ages for existing accounts (by freezing them until verified), new accounts, and periodically thereafter using secure processes.
- Age data must be collected minimally, protected with encryption, retained only as needed, and not shared or sold.
- Chatbots must disclose at the start of conversations and every 30 minutes that they are not human.
- Chatbots cannot claim to be licensed professionals like therapists or doctors, and must regularly remind users that they do not offer medical, legal, or similar advice.
- Restrictions on Minors: Providers must block minors from using AI companions after age verification.
- Enforcement: The U.S. Attorney General can pursue civil actions for violations, including injunctions and penalties up to $100,000 per violation. States may also enforce similar rules on behalf of residents, and the law does not override stronger state protections.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Adds a new Chapter 6 to Title 18 of the U.S. Code specifically addressing artificial intelligence chatbots, introducing criminal penalties for certain designs or uses.
- Imposes new federal requirements for age verification and user disclosures on providers of these chatbots, which were not previously mandated.
- Establishes civil enforcement mechanisms and data security rules tailored to age verification processes.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: Increases responsibilities for the Department of Justice in investigating and enforcing compliance through civil actions and rulemaking.
- On Citizens: Enhances protections for minors by limiting access to certain chatbots and providing clearer information to all users, while requiring adults to undergo age verification for continued access.
- On International Relations: No direct provisions address international aspects, though the rules could affect companies operating across borders by applying to any provider making chatbots available in the United States.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Providers and developers of artificial intelligence chatbots (referred to as covered entities).
- Minors and their parents or guardians.
- General adult users of these chatbots.
- Federal and state law enforcement agencies.
- Third-party companies involved in age verification services.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Introduces new criminal and civil liability for chatbot design and operation, potentially expanding federal oversight of online services.
- Includes provisions allowing states to maintain or adopt stronger protections, preserving some flexibility in state laws.
- Requires specific technical and disclosure practices that could influence how providers structure their systems and data handling.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (6)
Rep. Foushee, Valerie P. [D-NC-4], Rep. Craig, Angie [D-MN-2], Rep. Lawler, Michael [R-NY-17], Rep. Edwards, Chuck [R-NC-11], Rep. Owens, Burgess [R-UT-4], Rep. Patronis, Jimmy [R-FL-1]
Recent Actions
- 2026-04-30: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2026-04-30: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2026-04-30: Introduced in House
- 2026-04-30: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Guidelines for User Age-verification and Responsible Dialogue Act of 2026 — issued 2026-04-30 — PDF (13 pages)