Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) announced broad new support for his Youth AI Privacy Act, legislation introduced in March 2026 to establish stronger privacy and safety protections for minors using AI chatbots.
The bill comes as AI chatbot use among teens continues to grow—about two-thirds of teenagers reported using the technology in 2025, with one in four using it daily. Concerns have intensified following reports linking an AI chatbot to the suicide of a teenager.
The legislation has earned endorsements from more than a dozen organizations, including Common Sense Media, EPIC, Fairplay, the Consumer Federation of America, the American Federation of Teachers, Mothers Against Media Addiction (MAMA), the Tech Oversight Project, and the Alliance for Secure AI.
The Youth AI Privacy Act would:
- Require AI chatbots to clearly disclose they are not human.
- Limit personalization using minors’ data and prohibit manipulative features, such as push notifications designed to increase engagement.
- Ban targeted advertising, profiling, and the use of minors’ personal data to train AI models.
- Restrict companies from repurposing minors’ chatbot conversations.
- Empower the Federal Trade Commission, state attorneys general, and private plaintiffs to enforce the law.
Supporters say the legislation would help protect children from manipulative AI design, strengthen privacy safeguards, and prioritize young people’s safety over corporate profits. Senator Markey also continues to press major AI companies for greater transparency about their chatbot practices and potential advertising plans.
