Why It Matters

The Senate Commerce Committee will examine a package of bills designed to shield minors from AI-driven harms Aug. 5, as evidence mounts that young people are encountering predatory AI systems and inappropriate content. The package reflects a deliberate legislative strategy to prioritize children's online safety ahead of broader AI regulation. The committee is deferring more expansive AI regulatory legislation until after summer recess, instead focusing on bills that target specific harms to minors.

The Big Picture

AI companions are increasingly woven into how children navigate the internet, but the technology has created new vulnerabilities. A survey by Thorn, a nonprofit focused on online child safety nearly 27 percent of minor respondants reported having an online sexual interaction in 2025.

Recent legal settlements underscore the stakes. Character.AI and Google agreed to settle lawsuits filed by families who alleged that AI chatbots had harmed their children, including contributing to a Florida teenager's suicide. Beyond AI companions, researchers have flagged risks from AI-enabled toys. A February 2026 study warned that AI toys pose unacceptable risks to young children. One AI toy (FoloToy) was found to produce inappropriate content during tests, leading to a temporary sales suspension.

The markup will address five bills.

  • S.1748, the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA), would require social media companies to set minors' accounts to the strongest safety and privacy settings by default, implement parental controls, and alter addictive design features.
  • S.4407, CHATBOT Act, would give parents control over whether their children interact with AI chatbots like ChatGPT or Claude, and allow parents to view their children's conversations.
  • S.4199, Youth AI Privacy Act, requires entities that make AI chatbots available to minors to implement certain safe design features.
  • S.737, SCREEN Act, requires certain interactive computer services to adopt and operate technology verification measures to ensure that users of the platform are not minors.
  • S.5171, Children’s Artificial Intelligence Toy Safety Act of 2026, requires a study of AI-enabled toys and development of a joint action plan regarding their marketing and sale.

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