Technology (Online Safety)

Artificial Intelligence Chatbots and Minors Act established; prohibited practices; penalties. Creates the Artificial Intelligence Chatbots and Minors Act to require that deployers that operate or distribute a chatbot in the Commonwealth (i) ensure that any chatbot operated or distributed by the deployer does not make human-like features, defined in the bill, available to minors to use, interact with, purchase, or converse with and (ii) implement reasonable age verification systems to ensure that chatbots with human-like features are not made available to minors. The bill also requires deployers operating or distributing a chatbot that is a social artificial intelligence companion, defined in the bill, to ensure such chatbot is not available to minors. The bill provides that a violation of its provisions constitutes a prohibited practice under the Virginia Consumer Protection Act.