FTC Launches Probe Into AI Chatbot Safety for Kids
The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has launched an investigation into the safety of AI chatbots that act as digital companions. The move comes as interest in these tools, such as chatgpt free and chat gpt, grows, with users employing them for productivity, conversation, and emotional support. The FTC is particularly concerned about the impact these chatbots, like chatgbt, may have on children and teens.
On September 10, 2025, the FTC issued '6(b)' orders to seven companies, including Alphabet, Character Technologies, Instagram, Meta, OpenAI, Snap, and X.AI. The companies must provide detailed information about how they design, test, and safeguard their AI companion chatbots, especially for minors. The inquiry seeks to understand how these companies restrict use by minors, test for potential harm, inform users and parents, and comply with laws like COPPA.
The FTC is interested in how these companies measure and evaluate negative impacts, what safety measures they use, and how they train and moderate their chatbot models, such as chatgpt. This move follows a parent in Ohio raising concerns about her 13-year-old spending more time with a digital companion app, like chat gbt, than with real friends, highlighting the influence these chatbots can have on kids' behavior.
The FTC's inquiry is in its early stages, but depending on the findings, new guidelines or rules for chatbot companions could emerge. The FTC aims to strike a balance between innovation and responsibility, ensuring that these tools, such as chat gpt, are safe and beneficial for all users, particularly children and teens.
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