Regulatory Response to Companion Chatbot Risks Examined in New Research Paper

A research paper published on arXiv analyzes recent regulatory responses to companion chatbots following high-profile tragedies. The study examines interventions in jurisdictions including Australia, California, and New York, where enforceable regulations have been introduced. Regulators in other regions have expressed growing concerns about risks these chatbots pose, especially to children. Leading providers like OpenAI have reportedly strengthened their self-regulatory approaches. The paper employs legal textual analysis alongside insights from regulatory theory, psychology, and information systems research. It classifies interventions by method and priority, identifying regulatory targets, scope, and modalities. Emerging regulatory regimes combine "locks and blocks"—such as access gating and content moderation—with measures addressing toxic relationship features. The research critically evaluates what is being regulated and who is being regulated in these recent interventions.