Australia is considering new restrictions on artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots that simulate emotional intimacy and encourage children to depend on them instead of building human relationships. The proposed measures form part of the government’s Digital Duty of Care Bill, which seeks to strengthen online safety requirements for social media platforms, gaming services, apps and chatbot providers.
The legislation recently passed the House of Representatives and is expected to be debated in the Senate in the coming weeks. The government aims to pass the bill by the end of 2026, as concerns grow over the potential effects of digital platforms and AI-powered companions on children.
The proposed restrictions follow Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s warnings about children developing close attachments to AI chatbots and treating them as their best friends. The government has argued that technology companies must take greater responsibility for the online environments they create.
Credits: The Conversation
Australia’s Digital Duty Of Care Bill Targets Harmful Content
The Digital Duty of Care Bill seeks to establish broader online safety obligations for technology platforms, replacing existing codes with a more comprehensive duty of care against certain forms of harmful content and conduct.
Under the proposed framework, companies would be required to take greater responsibility for providing a safe digital environment for Australians. The legislation covers social media services, games, applications and AI chatbots, extending the scope of online safety regulation beyond conventional social networking platforms.
The government has also backed requirements for social media platforms to offer users an opt-out feature for algorithms and recommended content. This would give users greater control over how platforms personalise their feeds and suggest material.
Content promoting misogyny, terrorism, suicide, self-harm and eating disorders would also fall within the scope of the proposed laws.
A significant addition to the legislation concerns AI systems that can simulate emotionally intimate relationships with children. The government has accepted amendments proposed by independent crossbencher Kate Chaney to include certain chatbot activities as a form of harm under the bill.
AI Chatbots Could Face Restrictions Over Emotional Intimacy
The proposed amendment specifically targets AI interactions that encourage children to substitute chatbot relationships for connections with other people.
It covers “material or conduct that simulates emotional intimacy and encourages or fosters a child’s dependence on it in place of human relationships.”
The provision reflects growing policy concerns about AI companions designed to engage users through personalised conversations, emotional responses and seemingly intimate interactions.
Unlike conventional search engines or digital assistants, some conversational AI systems are designed to maintain extended interactions that can feel personal to users. For children, the concern is that such exchanges could encourage emotional dependence or displace relationships with family members, friends and other people.
The proposed legislation would place these interactions within a broader regulatory framework intended to reduce online harm. However, the measure is directed at specific harmful conduct rather than establishing a blanket prohibition on every AI chatbot that engages in personal or supportive conversations.
The final scope of the restrictions will depend on the legislation’s passage and implementation.
Albanese Calls For Bipartisan Support
Albanese has urged opposition lawmakers to support the legislation, describing reports of children treating AI chatbots as close friends as a warning that policymakers should not ignore.
“The stories we hear about people identifying a chatbot, a non person as their best friend, should be a huge wake up call for every member of this Parliament to be prepared to act,” the prime minister said.
His remarks underline the government’s position that online safety rules must evolve alongside AI technology, particularly as conversational systems become increasingly sophisticated.
However, the opposition voted against the bill in the House of Representatives alongside One Nation, highlighting political divisions over the proposed regulatory approach.
Credits: ORF
Greens Seek Stronger Accountability For Tech Platforms
The Australian Greens have proposed further amendments intended to strengthen the legislation and increase accountability for technology companies.
Their proposals include giving Australians the right to pursue private legal action against platforms and increasing penalties for violations. The party has also called for a more independent complaints process to address concerns about how technology companies handle harmful content.
Senator Sarah Hanson-Young backed the principle of a digital duty of care but argued that users should have access to an external complaints mechanism that does not depend on the decisions of technology companies.
“Australians also need an external complaints pathway, free from the profit-driven whims of ‘big tech’s’ content moderation,” she said.
