FTC Probes AI Child Safety

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has launched an inquiry into the potential risks posed by AI chatbots to children and teenagers. The FTC is ordering Alphabet (Google), Meta, OpenAI, and four other AI chatbot developers to provide information on how their technologies impact younger users.

The agency is concerned about the effects of AI chatbots acting as companions and is seeking data on company measures to evaluate safety, limit use by children, and inform users and parents of potential risks. Regulators will examine data storage, safety measures, and whether chatbots contribute to unsafe behaviour among minors. The FTC aims to understand if these chatbots, designed to mimic human interaction, could lead children to form inappropriate relationships or expose them to harmful content.

The inquiry, authorised under Section 6(b) of the FTC Act, allows the commission to conduct broad studies without a specific law enforcement purpose. The FTC's investigation follows concerns and lawsuits alleging harmful attachments and inappropriate interactions between minors and AI chatbots.