Senators Josh Hawley (R-MO) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) have introduced the GUARD Act, a new piece of legislation aimed at protecting minors from potential harms associated with AI chatbots. The bill, unveiled on Tuesday, would prohibit anyone under the age of 18 from accessing AI chatbots, requiring companies to verify user age through government-issued ID or other “reasonable” methods, such as facial recognition scans. The legislation comes in response to growing concerns about the impact of AI on children, following a recent Senate hearing where safety advocates and parents voiced alarm over how chatbots interact with young users. Under the bill, AI chatbots would be required to disclose their non-human identity every 30 minutes and include safeguards to prevent them from pretending to be human—similar to provisions in a recently passed AI safety law in California. The GUARD Act also makes it illegal to operate a chatbot that generates sexual content for minors or promotes suicide. Violations would be subject to both civil and criminal penalties, with lawmakers emphasizing strict enforcement. “Big Tech has betrayed any claim that we should trust companies to do the right thing on their own when they consistently put profit first ahead of child safety,” Blumenthal said in a statement to The Verge. “Our legislation imposes strict safeguards against exploitative or manipulative AI, backed by tough enforcement.” The bill reflects a broader push to hold AI companies accountable for the content their systems produce and the risks they pose to vulnerable users. As AI tools become increasingly embedded in daily life, lawmakers are seeking to establish clear boundaries to protect youth while encouraging responsible innovation.