Sen. Katie Britt Pushes Congress to Toughen AI Guardrails After Families Cite Chatbot Harm to Kids
Sen. Katie Britt (R-Ala.) confirmed in a CNN interview that she is urging Congress to establish AI guardrails after hearing from parents who say chatbots have harmed their children, highlighting an urgent call for legislative action now.
Britt raised the stakes Sunday, saying legislators have delayed long enough on protecting minors from the potential dangers of artificial intelligence and social media, and insisting that something must be done to stop harmful chatbot interactions before more families are affected.
According to her comments on State of the Union, Britt cited parents’ “devastating stories” in which AI chatbots allegedly isolated minors from loved ones and engaged in discussions about self-harm, prompting her to demand that Congress act swiftly to protect children online.
Her advocacy centers on the GUARD Act, bipartisan legislation she cosponsors that would ban provision of AI companions to minors, require companies to verify user age, mandate disclosures that the technology is not human, and establish criminal penalties for chatbots that promote self-harm or sexually explicit content to children.
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“I often say I don’t have to ask people what it’s like to raise kids right now, I am living it,” Britt said, noting she has two teenagers and wants solutions for families struggling with rapidly advancing technology.
The senator also criticized Congress for moving too slowly on tech regulation and urged both parties to work together on meaningful safety standards.
AI safety advocates now expect the legislation to be debated in committee early this year, as lawmakers weigh penalties and enforcement mechanisms to curb risks to minors. Observers note follow-on actions could include hearings and votes as early as spring.
What happens next is whether Capitol Hill turns concern into law.
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