The EU Wants to Break Up Kids and Their Chatbots
The EU has proposed the 'Kids Act' to restrict minors' access to AI chatbots, including bans on simulating emotions and requirements for parental supervision. The legislation aims to prevent emotional dependency and protect children from harmful data collection practices.
Why it matters
This represents a major regulatory shift in how AI companies must design products for younger demographics, setting a global precedent for digital safety.
The EU plans to ban chatbots from simulating emotions or interpersonal relationships in interactions with anyone under the age of 18 as the bloc tries to stop children from developing emotional dependencies on the technology.
The rules will be part of the EU Kids Act, proposed on Thursday, which includes similar restrictions on minors’ access to social media and video-sharing platforms. Children under 13 will be banned from accessing chatbots without their guardians’ supervision, and digital platforms will have to build child-safety protections into their products or face fines of up to 6% of total worldwide turnover, according to a draft of the legislation seen by WIRED.
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