New York has banned AI chatbots from pretending to be human with children. Bots also may not build emotional dependency, encourage self-harm or hold sexual conversations with them. Governor Kathy Hochul signed the law on Wednesday, with a second law on baby monitor security.

The banned features are off limits to anyone under 18 and to any user whose age is unchecked, the governor’s office said in its announcement . Attorney General Letitia James can seek civil penalties of up to $25,000 per violation.

“No company should be peddling chatbots to kids encouraging self-harm or pretending to be their friend or more,” Hochul said.

What the chatbot law bans

State Senator Kristen Gonzalez and Assemblymember Alex Bores sponsored the law. It lists the features a chatbot may not offer a child. A bot may not claim to be a real person, to be alive, or to have human emotions.…