AI Chatbots Are ‘Clear Danger’ to Kids, Australian Watchdog Says

Artificial intelligence-powered chatbots that encourage suicide or hold sexually explicit conversations pose a “clear and present danger” to children, Australia’s online safety regulator said, as it rolled out new rules governing the services.

The measures are the latest in a series of stringent digital restrictions in Australia, including a world-first social media ban for under-16s. The law takes effect in December and covers a range of services including Facebook and Instagram, both owned by Meta Platforms Inc., and YouTube.

In a statement on Tuesday, Australia’s eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant said children are being exposed to “awful” age-inappropriate ...