“Stories like that of a 14-year-old boy in Florida—lured into suicide by a chatbot app—are tragic and preventable. Our bill ensures apps like Character.AI face real scrutiny instead of hiding behind vague or inconsistent ratings.”
Lee cited discrepancies in app classification, noting that Apple labeled Character.AI as 17+, while Google’s Play Store rated it appropriate for teens—pointing to the need for uniform standards.
“Big Tech should not be the gatekeeper of our children’s safety,” added Representative James. “Kids cannot legally consent, and companies that expose them to addictive or adult content should face the same accountability standards we expect of local businesses.”
Violations of the legislation would be treated as violations of the Federal Trade Commission Act, empowering the FTC to take enforcement action.
This Republican bill on app store age verification comes as part of a broader push across states like Florida and Texas to introduce digital safeguards for minors, despite ongoing debates around First Amendment rights. As courts weigh the balance between free speech and online safety, lawmakers remain committed to pursuing protections tailored to today’s digital landscape.
