Australia’s House Passes Bill Extending Safety Duties to AI Chatbots
Photo: TokenPost
Australia’s House of Representatives passed legislation on Oct. 28 that would place artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots under a broad online safety duty, extending protections for users under 18 and setting potential penalties as high as A$109.2 million. The Online Safety Amendment (Digital Duty of Care) Bill 2026 would require covered online services, including AI chatbots, to protect young people from harmful material, conduct and product features. The framework sets a general safety obligation rather than a separate ban on chatbots that simulate emotional intimacy.
Source: TokenPost
