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COLUMBIA, S.C. — South Carolina lawmakers are moving forward with a bill aimed at regulating artificial intelligence chatbots.
Supporters say AI platforms interact can be harmful to young users, and create risks tied to emotional dependence and exposure to harmful content.
“If an adult can fall into such an emotional dependence, the risk to developing children is staggering,” said Sarah Thacker with the Alliance for a Better Future.
The proposed legislation would require companies to verify users’ ages and limit access to certain features for minors. It also mandates parental consent for underage users and requires companies to report serious risks, including signs of self-harm, to emergency services.
Parents backing the bill say those measures are necessary as children increasingly engage with AI tools.
“Kids trust what they interact with,” said Robin Shelly, a mother supporting the bill. “We are still learning how to think critically, how to set boundaries and how to recognize danger. When technology is designed to engage us without strong safety protections, it can lead to situations that we are not prepared to handle.”
In addition to safety measures, the bill would require companies to delete age verification data within 24 hours and prohibit them from presenting chatbots as licensed professionals, such as doctors or lawyers.
“This bill is not a ban,” Thacker said. “It does not prevent children from accessing chatbots, nor does it prevent adults from accessing any content. Instead, it simply requires limited access mode, which automatically blocks high-risk features and sexually explicit content.”
The bill has advanced to a full committee but still needs approval from both the House and Senate before the end of the legislative session.
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