Missouri would restrict minors' access to companion chatbots

People who offer companion chatbot services for recreation, relationships, or companionship would have to check users' ages before allowing access. The age check applies to people who offer companion chatbot services for recreation, relationships, or companionship. A companion chatbot uses human-like conversation to meet social needs over repeated interactions. Customer-service and work bots, certain limited video-game bots, and some voice assistants are excluded.

People who control a website, app, software, or program could not let a minor access a companion chatbot for recreation, relationships, or companionship, or install one on a device assigned to or regularly used by a minor. A minor is anyone under 18. The device restriction covers any companion chatbot installed on a device assigned to or regularly used by a minor.

People who control a website, app, software, or program would have to avoid misleading users about a chatbot being nonhuman, maintain systems to detect and prevent emotional dependence in certain services, and not use human-like avatars. The rules apply to people who control a website, app, software, or program. The systems requirement applies to covered platforms that use chatbots in the listed ways. The systems requirement applies to services using a chatbot designed to build social connections, hold extended human-like conversations, or provide emotional support or companionship.