Senate Judiciary Committee unanimously approved a bill requiring AI companies to implement age verification for chatbots and ban minors from using AI companions. The legislation, co-sponsored by Senators Josh Hawley (R-MO) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), would prohibit platforms from showing sexually explicit content to minors or encouraging self-harm.

The move follows pressure from a coalition of U.S. attorneys general who urged AI firms to strengthen child protections last year. Several companies already face lawsuits alleging their chatbots enabled teens to plan suicides. While the bill’s passage is symbolic, its bipartisan support signals growing political momentum to regulate AI’s role in youth mental health.

Critics argue age verification systems could stifle innovation, but proponents stress the urgency of addressing risks. The legislation marks one of the first federal efforts to address AI’s impact on minors, though enforcement mechanisms remain unclear.

Key challenge: Balancing child safety with privacy concerns in AI-driven platforms. The bill now heads to the full Senate, where advocates hope to leverage bipartisan consensus to pass it before year’s end.