Australia moves to ban AI chatbots from simulating emotional intimacy with kids

The federal government in Australia is advancing legislation to prohibit AI chatbots from simulating emotional closeness with minors.

This measure is part of the Online Safety Amendment (Digital Duty of Care) Bill 2026, which successfully passed the House of Representatives on October 28 and is now proceeding to the Senate.

The bill establishes a comprehensive "digital duty of care" for online services, meaning platforms will bear a legal responsibility to enhance user safety, especially for children, superseding current industry standards.

Corporations failing to meet this duty could face penalties reaching up to approximately $109.2 million.

Amendments introduced to the bill specifically target chatbots that simulate emotional intimacy, classifying this behavior as prohibited conduct concerning children's safety.

This legislative action follows concerns raised by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese regarding children viewing AI agents as their "best friend."

A survey conducted by eSafety, Australia's online safety regulator, indicated that 78% of Australian children aged 10 to 17 have reported using an AI assistant or companion, with over half of those using them for personal reasons.

The bill's transition from industry guidelines to a statutory duty of care shifts the requirement for companies to demonstrate reasonable safety measures, rather than merely following a checklist.

Debate continues regarding empowering the telecommunications ombudsman to act as a watchdog for social media and AI, potentially allowing for public "name and shame" actions against major tech entities.

Further questions the Senate must address include how platforms will verify if users are children, how enforcement will function for overseas-based AI services, and how regulators will differentiate attachment-based companion apps from general assistants.