Age restrictions for AI chatbots may be in new privacy bill, minister says
Global News
Artificial Intelligence Minister Evan Solomon's comments come at a time of rising concerns about the risks of chatbots to children, including mental health issues.
An upcoming privacy bill could include age restrictions on access to AI chatbots to protect children, Artificial Intelligence Minister Evan Solomon said.
“There are lots of discussions around folks who are asking us, hey, should there be a certain age-appropriate access to certain parts of chatbots,” Solomon told The Canadian Press.
“We’re going to look at that.”
His comments come at a time of rising concerns about the risks of chatbots, such as mental health issues and delusions induced by AI systems.
Wrongful death lawsuits targeting artificial intelligence chatbots have been launched in the United States by parents of teenagers whose children died by suicide.
Solomon spoke Thursday about his approach to AI regulation at the Govern or Be Governed conference in Montreal. The next day, the conference heard from one of the parents behind those lawsuits.
Megan Garcia launched a lawsuit in Florida last year against Character.AI after her 14-year-old son died by suicide. In Montreal, she urged policymakers outside the United States to take action.
“My hope is that by passing legislation and enforcing it, making these companies liable for fines in their own countries or other things like that, that you will put the pressure” on tech companies, she said.
