A Republican bill with 3 Democratic cosponsors · See all 7 cosponsors
Last activity — Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The GUARD Act aims to regulate artificial intelligence chatbots to protect users, particularly minors. It requires covered entities to implement rigorous age verification processes and establish user accounts for those interacting with these systems. The bill criminalizes chatbots that solicit sexually explicit conduct or promote physical violence, such as self-harm or suicide. It also mandates specific disclosures, requiring chatbots to identify themselves as non-human and state they are not licensed professionals. Additionally, the Act prohibits minors from accessing "AI companions." These regulations and penalties are designed to mitigate safety risks associated with AI interactions.
Yes· 3 of 5
- Scored +7
Would children be better off under this?
The bill protects minors from harmful content, grooming, and psychological manipulation by AI companions.
- Scored +6
Does this give people more protection from unfair business practices?
The bill protects consumers from deceptive AI interactions and ensures they are notified that chatbots are not human or professional services.
- Scored +5
Does this put more rules on large technology companies?
The bill imposes new regulatory requirements on entities providing artificial intelligence chatbots.
The opposite· 3 of 4
- Scored -3
Would people in their twenties and thirties be better off under this?
The bill requires young adults to undergo age verification processes to access AI services.
- Scored -2
Does this make mental health care easier to get?
The bill prohibits AI companions from representing themselves as providing psychological or therapeutic services.
- Scored -1
Would households on low incomes be better off under this?
The requirement for age verification through government ID may impose a burden on those without easy access to such documentation.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Protection of Minors from Harmful Content: The bill prohibits the development or availability of chatbots that encourage or induce minors to engage in sexually explicit conduct or promote physical violence and self-harm (Section 4).
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Transparency Regarding AI Identity: Chatbots must disclose that they are artificial intelligence and not human beings at the start of a conversation and every 30 minutes, preventing users from being deceived (Section 5(c)(1)).
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Prevention of Misleading Professional Advice: The Act prevents AI from representing itself as a licensed professional, such as a therapist or doctor, and requires a disclosure that the chatbot does not provide medical, legal, or financial services (Section 5(c)(2)).
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Enhanced Data Security for Age Verification: Covered entities are required to maintain reasonable data security, use encryption, and are prohibited from selling or transferring age verification data (Section 5(b)(5)).
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Safety from Exploitative AI Companions: The bill specifically prohibits minors from accessing "AI companions," which are designed to simulate interpersonal or emotional interaction (Section 6 and Section 3(1)).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Strict Age Verification Requirements: Users must undergo a "reasonable age verification process," which may require providing a government-issued identification or other authenticated methods rather than just entering a birth date (Section 3(5) and Section 5(b)).
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Burden of Account Creation: To interact with an artificial intelligence chatbot, individuals are required to create a user account (Section 5(a)).
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Disruption of Existing Services: For users who already have accounts, the Act requires the covered entity to freeze those accounts until the user provides verifiable age data (Section 5(b)(1)).
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Financial Penalties for Violations: Individuals or entities that violate the criminal prohibitions regarding solicitation or the promotion of violence can be fined up to $100,000 per offense (Section 4(b) and Section 4(c)).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Education And Technology
- Does this put more rules on large technology companies? — The bill imposes new regulatory requirements on entities providing artificial intelligence chatbots. Does this give people more control over their personal data? — The bill mandates reasonable data security and prohibits the sale or transfer of age verification data.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this give people more protection from unfair business practices? — The bill protects consumers from deceptive AI interactions and ensures they are notified that chatbots are not human or professional services.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would children be better off under this? — The bill protects minors from harmful content, grooming, and psychological manipulation by AI companions. Would people in their twenties and thirties be better off under this? — The bill requires young adults to undergo age verification processes to access AI services. Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — The requirement for age verification through government ID may impose a burden on those without easy access to such documentation. Would people with disabilities be better off under this? — The prohibition on AI providing therapeutic services may limit tools used by some for support.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this protect people from being watched or searched? — The bill includes mandates to limit the collection of personal data to what is minimally necessary for age verification.
- Healthcare
- Does this make mental health care easier to get? — The bill prohibits AI companions from representing themselves as providing psychological or therapeutic services.
- 7/20/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 6/23/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 6/10/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 5/12/2026
- 3 Cosponsors added.
- 4/30/2026
- Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in House
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Brendan BoyleDemocrat · Pennsylvania
Angie CraigDemocrat · Minnesota
Chuck EdwardsRepublican · North Carolina
Valerie FousheeDemocrat · North Carolina
Michael LawlerRepublican · New York
Burgess OwensRepublican · Utah
Jimmy PatronisRepublican · Florida