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Bill

S 1037

Protecting Children from Chatbots

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Brian Adams and 3 co-sponsors

South Carolina proposes restricting how AI chatbots interact with minors to protect child safety and privacy in digital environments.

Referred to Committee on Labor, Commerce and Industry
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · S 1037

Legislative bill overview

S 1037 aims to establish regulations governing how artificial intelligence chatbots can interact with minors in South Carolina. The bill would restrict certain chatbot functionalities and require specific safety measures when children access AI systems. The specific provisions are not yet publicly detailed, as the bill was recently introduced and referred to committee.

Why is this important

Chatbots and AI systems are increasingly accessible to children, raising concerns about child safety, data privacy, and potential psychological harm from unmoderated AI interactions. This represents one of the first state-level attempts to create a regulatory framework specifically addressing child-AI interaction, which could influence how technology companies operate nationwide. The outcome of this bill may set precedent for other states considering similar protections.

Potential points of contention

  • Defining "chatbot" scope: Uncertainty about which AI systems fall under regulation (search engines, educational apps, social media algorithms, gaming AI) could create compliance confusion
  • Free speech and innovation concerns: Technology advocates may argue restrictions could limit beneficial AI applications for children's education and accessibility
  • Enforcement challenges: Determining how South Carolina would monitor and enforce rules against companies with national/global operations raises practical implementation questions

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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