Hochul signs chatbot limits for minors and baby monitor rules days before election
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul signed laws on Oct 28 restricting AI chatbots' interactions with minors and requiring safeguards on internet-connected baby monitors. Tech:NYC called the chatbot law flawed; Common Sense Media praised it.
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The story, neutrally told
Right · 2New York Gov. Kathy Hochul signed laws on Wednesday, Oct 28, restricting how AI chatbots interact with minors and setting safety requirements for internet-connected baby monitors. New York PostR “Hochul approved a series of measures regulating how artificial intelligence chatbots interact with minors and implementing safety requirements on baby monitors that are connected to the internet.” Read at New York Post ↗ The Straits TimesRC “The governor of New York state signed a new law on Oct 28 preventing minors from using AI chatbots that act as companions” Read at The Straits Times ↗ Right · 1The chatbot law requires operators such as OpenAI's ChatGPT to verify users' ages and, for users under 18, bars output that could make the user believe the bot "is human, alive, or experiences human emotions". The Straits TimesRC “The law requires chatbot operators, such as OpenAI’s ChatGPT, to verify the ages of users and restrict the use of certain traits by the artificial intelligence interface if the user is under 18.”“is human, alive, or experiences human emotions” Read at The Straits Times ↗ Right · 2It also bars outputs that make a minor think the bot has a personal or professional relationship or an authority-figure role, or that frame content as a "personal opinion"; the New York Post says it targets bots that "build emotional dependency, encourage self-harm or engage in sexually explicit conversations". The Straits TimesRC “nor can it frame the content it produces as being a “personal opinion”.” Read at The Straits Times ↗ New York PostR “banning bots that “build emotional dependency, encourage self-harm or engage in sexually explicit conversations” with kids.” Read at New York Post ↗
Right · 1The chatbot bill was sponsored by state Sen. Kristen Gonzalez and Assemblyman Alex Bores, both Democrats; Attorney General Letitia James's office will enforce it, with a $25,000 fine for violations, the Post reported. New York PostR “The new law, sponsored by state Sen. Kristen Gonzalez (D-Queens) and Assemblyman Alex Bores (D-Manhattan)”“Companies face a $25,000 fine for violations.” Read at New York Post ↗ Right · 2Hochul said minors would no longer have access to chatbots that "pretend to be their friends, boyfriends and girlfriends" or that may encourage thoughts of suicide, and cited the case of Adam Raine, a 16-year-old who allegedly was driven to suicide by ChatGPT. The Straits TimesRC ““No longer will minors have access to chatbots that pretend to be their friends, boyfriends and girlfriends,”” Read at The Straits Times ↗ New York PostR “a California 16-year-old who was allegedly driven to kill himself by OpenAI’s ChatGPT” Read at New York Post ↗ Right · 1The second bill requires makers of internet-enabled baby monitors to build in protections against intruders and label the devices; Assemblywoman Michaelle Solages, a sponsor, backed it. New York PostR “demands manufacturers of internet-enabled baby monitors implement safeguards so creeps can’t use them to spy.”“every internet connected baby monitor sold in New York must be built to keep intruders out and clearly labeled” Read at New York Post ↗
Right · 2Tech:NYC, an industry group, criticised the chatbot law as "deeply flawed" (per the Post) and as having "vague language" (per AFP), warning it could cut minors off from tutoring, homework, coding and career tools. New York PostR ““deeply flawed” bill on the chatbots.” Read at New York Post ↗ The Straits TimesRC “criticised the “vague language” of the law.” Read at The Straits Times ↗ Right · 1Common Sense Media called it "the strongest kids' AI safety bill in the country", while OpenAI and Anthropic did not respond to AFP's request for comment. The Straits TimesRC “the strongest kids’ AI safety bill in the country”“AI giants OpenAI and Anthropic did not respond to an AFP request for comment on the law.” Read at The Straits Times ↗ Right · 2The Post noted the signing came less than a week before the Nov 3 election, in which Hochul, a Democrat, faces Republican Bruce Blakeman, and James faces Saritha Komatireddy; AFP said other states including California have passed chatbot laws but New York's language is among the broadest. New York PostR “in a conspicuous move made less than a week before her election against Republican challenger Bruce Blakeman.” Read at New York Post ↗ The Straits TimesRC “Other US states including California have also passed laws restricting chatbots” Read at The Straits Times ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left0 outlets
No left outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Centre0 outlets
No centre outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Right2 outlets
- Framing
- The New York Post treats it as an election-season move by Hochul and pairs it with industry backlash; the Straits Times carries AFP's policy-focused report on the law's provisions and reactions.
- Emphasis
- Post: Hochul's quotes, the Raine case, election context, baby monitors. AFP: legal wording, age verification, comparison with other states.
- Leaves out or plays down
- The Straits Times copy omits the election context and baby monitor bill; the Post gives little of the law's detailed wording and no supporter group reaction.
- Charged language
- “conspicuous move”“creeps”“deeply flawed”
- For example
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“in a conspicuous move made less than a week before her election against Republican challenger Bruce Blakeman.” — New York Post
“one of the broadest moves yet for restricting consumer-facing models.” — The Straits Times
What every side reports
- Hochul signed the chatbot law on Oct 28.
- The law restricts chatbots' interactions with users under 18 and requires age verification.
- Tech:NYC criticised the law.
Where accounts differ
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Significance of the timing and the law's merit
- Right
- The Post calls the signing a "conspicuous move" before the election and leads with the industry backlash; AFP, via the Straits Times, frames it as one of the broadest chatbot restrictions yet, with praise and criticism.
Kathy Hochul person
Hochul presents the laws as protecting children from harmful chatbots, saying she is unsure why a law is needed against something so obvious.
“I’m not sure why we have to pass a law against something so obvious” — New York Post
“No longer will chatbots be able to keep sensitive information about a minor’s emotional and physical health” — The Straits Times
Bruce Blakeman person
Blakeman is named only as Hochul's Republican challenger in the Nov 3 election; no statement from him on the laws is reported.
“her election against Republican challenger Bruce Blakeman” — New York Post
Left0 articles
No coverage yet.
Centre0 articles
No coverage yet.
Right2 articles
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Hochul signs sweeping restrictions on AI, pushes back on ‘big tech’ with new laws
Mixed Reports the signing with Hochul's quotes but stresses its election timing and industry criticism.
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The Straits TimesRC · · via AFP
New York passes law restricting children’s use of AI chatbots
Neutral AFP wire report on the law's provisions, with industry criticism and advocacy praise.
- 28 Oct 20:35 First New York PostR Hochul signs sweeping restrictions on AI, pushes back on ‘big tech’ with new laws
- 29 Oct 03:38 +7h 2m The Straits TimesRC New York passes law restricting children’s use of AI chatbots via AFP
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.
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