California Attorney General Rob Bonta, along with 44 other attorneys general, has sent a letter to 12 leading artificial intelligence companies in response to reports of sexually inappropriate interactions between AI chatbots and children. The letter emphasizes that states are closely monitoring how these companies address AI safety and highlights their legal responsibility to protect children using their products.
“As the fourth largest economy in the world, California knows that protecting our kids and pursuing innovation go hand in hand — they are not diametrically opposed. When faced with the decision about how their products treat children, the companies developing and deploying AI technologies must exercise sound judgment and prioritize children’s well-being,” said Attorney General Bonta. “Exposing children to sexualized content is indefensible. Full stop. This is an easy, clear, and non-negotiable line for companies leading revolutionary emerging technology, like AI. Today, I am proud to send a strong message alongside attorneys general across the nation — and across the aisle: AI companies who make choices that lead their technology to harm children will be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law.”
The letter was addressed to Anthropic, Apple, Chai AI, Google, Luka Inc., Meta, Microsoft, Nomi AI, OpenAI, Perplexity AI, Replika, and xAI.
Bonta joined attorneys general from a wide range of states and territories including Alaska, American Samoa, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Northern Mariana Islands Ohio Oklahoma Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia and Wyoming.
Attorney General Bonta has focused on responding to challenges presented by new technology. In recent years he has filed lawsuits against Meta and TikTok over allegations that these platforms were intentionally designed to addict young users at the expense of their mental and physical health.
Earlier this year Bonta issued two legal advisories reminding both consumers of their rights under California law as well as advising businesses and healthcare entities involved with AI about their legal obligations. Despite rapid advances in AI technology these entities remain subject to existing state laws.
Bonta also sent several letters opposing a proposed 10-year federal ban on states enforcing any state law or regulation related to AI or automated decision-making systems. He argued that given how quickly AI is changing it is important for states to retain flexibility in regulating this area; Congress ultimately removed this provision from consideration in July.
In 2024 Bonta submitted comments to the Federal Communications Commission regarding potential impacts of emerging AI technologies on efforts against illegal robocalls or robotexts. In 2023 he joined a bipartisan coalition urging Congress to establish an expert commission studying how AI can be used in child sexual abuse material cases.
A copy of the recent letter sent by Bonta and his colleagues can be found online.
