Artificial Intelligence Chatbots Act; established, prohibited practices, penalties.
What changed between versions
New chapter 60 establishes an Artificial Intelligence Chatbots Act with definitions for AI systems, companion chatbots, developers, deployers, operators, and users
Safety requirements prohibit operators from making companion chatbots available to minors if the chatbot can encourage self-harm, violence, illegal activities, or sexually explicit interactions
Disclosure requirements mandate operators include disclaimers that chatbots are not human and notify users at specific intervals (login, every 30 minutes, when prompted, and when seeking regulated advice)
Mental health redirect requirements mandate chatbots must detect and address suicidal ideation or self-harm expressions by referring users to crisis services
Data privacy requirements prohibit training AI models with minor inputs without written parental consent
Transparency requirements mandate operators establish incident reporting mechanisms, publish safety test findings, and provide quarterly reports on chatbot interactions involving sensitive topics
Enforcement provisions establish that violations of the new AI chatbot chapter constitute prohibited practices under the Virginia Consumer Protection Act
Formatting and layout changes from original introduction to committee substitute version, including page numbering and header information
