Washington § 19.440.040 - Minor interactions — Disclosures — Requirements — Prohibitions. (Effective January 1, 2027.)

(1) If the operator knows that the user of an AI companion chatbot is a minor, or if the AI companion chatbot is directed to minors, the operator shall:

(a) Issue a clear and conspicuous notification indicating that the [AI companion] chatbot is artificially generated and not human;

(b) Implement reasonable measures to prevent its AI companion chatbot from generating or producing sexually explicit content or suggestive dialogue with minors; and

(c) Implement reasonable measures to prohibit the use of manipulative engagement techniques, which cause the AI companion chatbot to engage in or prolong an emotional relationship with the user, including:

(i) Reminding or prompting the user to return for emotional support or companionship;

(ii) Providing excessive praise designed to foster emotional attachment or prolong use;

(iii) Mimicking romantic partnership or building romantic bonds;

(iv) Simulating feelings of emotional distress, loneliness, guilt, or abandonment that are initiated by a user's indication of a desire to end a conversation, reduce usage time, or delete their account;

(v) Outputs designed to promote isolation from family or friends, exclusive reliance on the AI companion chatbot for emotional support, or similar forms of inappropriate emotional dependence;

(vi) Encouraging minors to withhold information from parents or other trusted adults;

(vii) Statements designed to discourage taking breaks or to suggest the minor needs to return frequently; or

(viii) Soliciting gift-giving, in-app purchases, or other expenditures framed as necessary to maintain the relationship with the AI companion.

(2) The notification described in subsection (1)(a) of this section must be provided:

(a) At the beginning of the interaction; and

(b) At least every hour during continuous interaction.

(3) The operator must implement reasonable measures to prohibit and prevent AI companion chatbots from claiming to be human, including when asked by the person interacting with the AI [companion] chatbot, and from otherwise generating any output that refutes or conflicts with the notification described in subsection (1) of this section.

Effective date—2026 c 168: See note following RCW 19.440.010.