Australia’s digital duty of care bill would bar AI chatbots from building “emotional intimacy” with children. The bill passed the House of Representatives on Wednesday, 28 October, as Josh Butler reported for The Guardian . It now goes to the Senate.

The chatbot rule came in through amendments from independent MP Kate Chaney, which the government accepted on Wednesday. They add certain chatbot conduct to the bill’s list of harms. Platforms would have to ban:

“material or conduct that simulates emotional intimacy and encourages or fosters a child’s dependence on it in place of human relationships”

The wording covers a child’s dependence on a chatbot. It does not cover adults who use AI companions.

Albanese’s appeal to the Coalition

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese made the case for the bill in a speech on Tuesday night.…