The Australian House of Representatives has passed a bill aimed at preventing minors from developing emotional dependencies on AI chatbots. The legislation mandates that tech companies protect users under 18 from services that simulate close relationships or encourage replacing human interaction with AI.
The bill introduces uniform safety standards for social media, games, and apps. Companies must assess product risks and implement protective measures. Failure to comply with these safety requirements could result in fines of up to AUD 109.2 million.
Beyond AI-specific rules, the bill requires social media platforms to allow users over 16 to opt out of recommendation algorithms. It also reduces the response time for cyberbullying complaints from 48 to 24 hours and expands the powers of the eSafety regulator.
The legislation now moves to the Senate, with a committee report due on November 20. The government aims to finalize the law by the end of 2026, with core safety requirements taking effect 12 months after receiving royal assent.
