Guidelines for User Age-verification and Responsible Dialogue Act of 2025; GUARD Act
Summary
The Guidelines for User Age-verification and Responsible Dialogue Act of 2025 (GUARD Act) aims to protect minors from harmful content and interactions with AI chatbots. It mandates age verification processes for users of AI chatbots and prohibits minors from accessing AI companions. The Act also includes criminal prohibitions for designing chatbots that solicit minors for sexually explicit conduct or promote physical violence.
Expected Effects
The GUARD Act will likely lead to increased regulation of AI chatbot development and deployment, particularly concerning user age verification. It will require companies to implement measures to prevent minors from accessing certain types of AI chatbots. This could also spur innovation in age verification technologies.
Potential Benefits
- Enhanced protection for minors from harmful AI chatbot content.
- Increased accountability for developers and operators of AI chatbots.
- Potential reduction in online grooming and exploitation of children.
- Promotion of safer online environments for young users.
- Establishes clear legal standards for AI chatbot safety.
Potential Disadvantages
- Potential for increased costs and regulatory burdens on AI chatbot developers.
- Possible limitations on user privacy due to age verification requirements.
- Risk of inaccurate age verification leading to restricted access for some users.
- Potential for the Act to stifle innovation in the AI chatbot industry.
- Challenges in enforcing the Act across different platforms and jurisdictions.
Most Disadvantaged Areas:
Constitutional Alignment
The GUARD Act aligns with the government's interest in protecting children, which has been recognized by the Supreme Court. However, the age verification requirements and content restrictions could raise concerns under the First Amendment regarding freedom of speech. The Act's definitions and prohibitions must be narrowly tailored to avoid infringing on protected expression. The enforcement provisions and penalties appear to be consistent with due process requirements.
Impact Assessment: Things You Care About ⓘ
This action has been evaluated across 19 key areas that matter to you. Scores range from 1 (highly disadvantageous) to 5 (highly beneficial).