# Children, companions and deepfakes

> How are governments responding to AI chatbots and image generators harming children?

Regulators moved from inquiries to binding duties in 2026, prompted by teen-harm lawsuits and the Grok image scandal. Approaches range from takedown duties and platform investigations to audits and outright bans on companion features for minors.

## Stops
1. **11 Sep 2025: FTC orders seven firms to explain how AI companion chatbots protect children** (Development) The FTC demands information from seven chatbot providers on protecting minors. [page](https://wheresthe.ai/d/us-ftc-6b-ai-companion-chatbot-inquiry-2025-09/) · [source](https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2025/09/ftc-launches-inquiry-ai-chatbots-acting-companions)
2. **13 Oct 2025: SB 243** (Rule) California's first companion-chatbot law requires AI disclosure and crisis protocols from 2026. [page](https://wheresthe.ai/rule/us-ca-sb243-companion-chatbots-2025/) · [source](https://www.gov.ca.gov/2025/10/13/governor-newsom-signs-bills-to-further-strengthen-californias-leadership-in-protecting-children-online)
3. **7 Jan 2026: Character.AI and Google agree to settle lawsuits over teen suicides and self-harm** (Development) The first teen wrongful-death chatbot suits settle, keeping liability pressure on companion apps. [page](https://wheresthe.ai/d/us-character-ai-google-teen-harm-settlements-2026-01/) · [source](https://www.axios.com/2026/01/07/google-character-ai-lawsuits-teen-suicides)
4. **12 Jan 2026: Ofcom opens Online Safety Act probe into X over Grok sexualised deepfakes** (Development) Grok's sexualised images trigger UK and EU investigations of X. [page](https://wheresthe.ai/d/gb-ofcom-x-grok-deepfake-investigation-2026-01/) · [source](https://ofcom.org.uk/online-safety/illegal-and-harmful-content/ofcom-launches-investigation-into-x-over-grok-sexualised-imagery)
5. **29 Apr 2026: Crime and Policing Act 2026 (nudification tools, AI CSAM generators)** (Rule) The UK criminalises supplying nudification tools and AI child-abuse image generators. [page](https://wheresthe.ai/rule/gb-crime-and-policing-act-2026-ai-provisions/) · [source](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2026/20/contents)
6. **10 Apr 2026: China issues companion-AI rules banning virtual partners for minors** (Development) China bars virtual-partner AI services for minors and mandates usage reminders. [page](https://wheresthe.ai/d/cn-cac-anthropomorphic-ai-measures-2026-04/) · [source](https://www.cac.gov.cn/2026-04/10/c_1777558395078289.htm)
7. **19 May 2026: FTC begins enforcing TAKE IT DOWN Act's 48-hour removal duty for intimate deepfakes** (Development) US platforms must remove intimate deepfakes within 48 hours of a request. [page](https://wheresthe.ai/d/us-ftc-take-it-down-act-enforcement-2026-05/) · [source](https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2026/05/ftc-begins-enforcing-take-it-down-act)
8. **Australia** (Country) Australia's under-16 social media minimum age law (penalties up to A$49.5m) is the age-gating alternative to regulating features. [page](https://wheresthe.ai/j/au/)
9. **10 Sep 2026: California enacts SB 1119 requiring child-safety risk assessments for companion chatbots** (Development) California moves to pre-release child-safety risk assessments and audits for chatbots. [page](https://wheresthe.ai/d/us-ca-sb1119-adams-law-companion-chatbots-2026-09/) · [source](https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billStatusClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260SB1119)

---
Canonical page: https://wheresthe.ai/line/protecting-children-from-ai-companions-and-deepfakes/ · A Line of Thought from wheresthe.ai