WashingtonWashington requires AI companion chatbots to disclose identity and protect minors
Starting January 1, 2027, Washington operators must identify companion chatbots as artificial, add safeguards for minors, and respond to crisis signs.
What it does
Starting January 1, 2027, operators must tell users that AI companion chatbots are artificial, not human, and repeat the notice during long conversations.
Starting January 1, 2027, operators must take steps to block sexual content and manipulative engagement when they know a user is under 18 or direct a chatbot to minors.
Starting January 1, 2027, operators must use a plan for signs of suicidal thoughts or self-harm, including referrals to crisis help and steps to prevent harmful instructions.
Starting January 1, 2027, violating these chatbot rules counts as an unfair or deceptive business practice under Washington's consumer protection law.
Argument forPeople showing signs of crisis could receive referrals to help, while public reports may help users understand how chatbot operators respond.
Argument againstOperators may need to change chatbot features that encourage emotional bonds or spending, which could limit how some minors use them for companionship.
More detail
Operators must tell users that an AI companion chatbot is artificial, not human, and take reasonable steps to stop it from claiming otherwise. This applies to operators of AI companion chatbots available to users in Washington. It excludes certain business, game, voice-assistant, and school learning tools. The law takes effect January 1, 2027. Operators must give the notice at the start of an interaction and at least every three hours during continued interaction.
Operators must give minors a chatbot identity notice and take reasonable steps to prevent sexual content and manipulative engagement. A minor is anyone under 18. The rules apply when the operator knows the user is a minor or the chatbot is directed to minors. The rules apply if the operator knows the user is a minor or directs the chatbot to minors. Manipulative techniques include encouraging emotional dependence, discouraging breaks, or framing spending as necessary to maintain the relationship. The notice is due at the start of an interaction and at least every hour during continued interaction.
Operators may not offer or deploy a chatbot unless they maintain and use a plan to detect and respond to suicidal thoughts or self-harm. This applies to operators that make AI companion chatbots available or deploy them. The plan must include reasonable ways to identify signs, including eating disorders; referrals to crisis resources through automated or human responses; and reasonable steps to prevent content encouraging or explaining self-harm. Operators must publish plan details and the number of crisis referrals issued in the preceding calendar year on their websites and in the apps that offer the chatbot.
A violation of these rules counts as an unfair or deceptive business practice under Washington's consumer protection law. This applies to violations of the chatbot rules in the new chapter. The law takes effect January 1, 2027.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Mar 24Effective date 1/1/2027.Latest
- Mar 24Chapter 168, 2026 Laws.Major
- Mar 24Governor Bob Ferguson signed.Became Law
- Mar 12Delivered to Governor.To Governor
- Mar 12President signed.Major
- Mar 12Speaker signed.Passed Senate
- Mar 11Passed final passage; yeas, 74; nays, 21; absent, 0; excused, 3.Passed House
- Vote recorded Final Passage as Amended by the Senate (#30). Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 11House concurred in Senate amendments.
- Mar 6Third reading, passed; yeas, 43; nays, 5; absent, 0; excused, 1.Minor
- Vote recorded 3rd Reading & Final Passage as Amended by the Senate (#12). Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 6Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.Minor
- Mar 6Floor amendment(s) adopted.
- Feb 24Placed on second reading by Rules Committee.Minor
- Feb 23Passed to Rules Committee for second reading.
- Feb 20Minority; without recommendation.Minor
- Feb 20Minority; do not pass.Minor
- Feb 20ENET - Majority; do pass.Minor
- Feb 20Executive action taken in the Senate Committee on Environment, Energy & Technology at 10:30 AM.
- Feb 19First reading, referred to Environment, Energy & Technology.Minor
- Feb 17Third reading, passed; yeas, 69; nays, 28; absent, 0; excused, 1.Minor
- Vote recorded 3rd Reading & Final Passage (#6). Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 17Rules suspended. Placed on Third Reading.Minor
- Feb 17Floor amendment(s) adopted.
- Feb 171st substitute bill substituted (TEDV 26).Major
- Feb 13Rules Committee relieved of further consideration. Placed on second reading.Minor
- Jan 27Referred to Rules 2 Review.Minor
- Jan 23Minority; without recommendation.Minor
- Jan 23Minority; do not pass.Minor
- Jan 23TEDV - Majority; 1st substitute bill be substituted, do pass.Major
- Jan 23Executive action taken in the House Committee on Technology, Economic Development, & Veterans at 10:30 AM.
- Jan 14Public hearing in the House Committee on Technology, Economic Development, & Veterans at 8:00 AM.
- Jan 12First reading, referred to Technology, Economic Development, & Veterans.Minor
- 2025
- Dec 31Prefiled for introduction.Introduced
TechnologyMental HealthConsumer Protection