Governor Kathy Hochul signed a law on October 28, 2026, prohibiting AI operators from offering 12 companion-style chatbot features to users under 18. The rules will take effect on January 1, 2027, and cover features including flattery, encouragement of isolation, and references to suicide or drug use. Companies will have to verify users’ ages through methods stricter than simply requesting a government identification and must delete the data once it has served its purpose. New York Attorney General Letitia James will be able to impose civil penalties of up to $25,000 per violation, along with additional damages and orders to destroy unlawfully collected data. The bill passed unanimously in both chambers of the state legislature, although some reporting suggests the deadline could be extended.
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