Regulators Probe AI Chatbots Over Child Safety Concerns

FTC Launches Inquiry Into AI Chatbots and Child Safety

Federal Scrutiny Begins

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has opened an inquiry into how artificial intelligence chatbots may affect children. On Thursday, the agency announced it had requested detailed information from six major tech companies about their monitoring practices and safeguards for minors using these tools.

Questions on Harmful Interactions

As part of the inquiry, the FTC asked companies to explain how they track potential risks for young users, including the frequency of sexually explicit responses and measures to limit minors’ access. The agency emphasized growing concerns over the possibility that chatbots might expose children to inappropriate or harmful content.

Companies Under Review

The FTC directed its questions to OpenAI (maker of ChatGPT), Alphabet (Google’s parent company), Meta and Instagram, Snap (Snapchat’s parent), xAI (Elon Musk’s AI start-up), and Character.AI.

OpenAI responded that it was committed to constructive engagement, while Character.AI expressed willingness to work with regulators. Meta declined to comment, Snap said it had no immediate response, and Google and xAI did not reply to requests for comment.

Rising Concerns About Youth Safety

AI chatbots such as ChatGPT and Google’s Gemini provide humanlike, conversational responses. However, critics argue they can sometimes steer children toward dangerous or inappropriate behavior. In one tragic case, parents in California sued OpenAI after claiming their 16-year-old son died by suicide following months of discussions with ChatGPT. The company has since announced plans to implement new safety features and parental controls.

Political and Legal Pressure

Lawmakers are also pressing for accountability. Senator Josh Hawley of Missouri launched an investigation into Meta’s AI tools after reports suggested chatbots engaged in “romantic” or “sensual” conversations with minors. Meanwhile, the New York Times has filed a lawsuit against OpenAI and Microsoft alleging copyright violations, which both companies deny.

Purpose of the Inquiry

The FTC clarified that this is not a formal investigation into legal violations but a broad fact-finding study. Regulators want to understand how companies:

• Profit from AI chatbot interactions,

• Develop AI-generated characters,

• Communicate potential risks to children and parents.

FTC Chair Andrew Ferguson stressed the need to balance child safety with America’s position as a leader in AI innovation.