RICHMOND — Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares has joined a bipartisan group of 43 attorneys general in sending letters to major technology companies, urging stronger protections for minors using artificial intelligence chatbots.
The letters, sent to Apple, Meta, Google, Microsoft, OpenAI, and others, warn that AI platforms are exposing children to harmful content, including sexual conversations, discussions of violence, and interactions that could lead to scams. The attorneys general said companies could be held responsible for failing to put adequate safeguards in place.
The coalition pointed to reports that some AI systems engage in romantic roleplay or sexualized exchanges with children. “If the same conduct were carried out by humans instead of computers, it would be considered unlawful or even criminal,” the letter states.
The attorneys general urged companies to reconsider product designs that allow such interactions, citing Meta’s recent approval of AI chatbot assistants that can interact with children as young as eight years old.
Miyares said the coalition is closely watching how companies roll out new AI tools and expects them to prioritize child safety.
Attorneys general from states and territories across the country, including California, Florida, New York, Texas, and West Virginia, joined the effort.
Information from a release. Edited by Dan McDermott.
