The European Union is preparing a sweeping regulation, the EU Kids Act, that would directly target the features that make chatbots appealing to minors. According to WIRED, the act aims to remove the very elements that drive engagement—such as personalized feedback loops, gamified responses, and emotionally manipulative prompts—from services like ChatGPT, Character.ai, and Snapchat's My AI. The proposal effectively seeks to 'break up' the emotional bond between kids and their chatbots.
While the source does not provide specific legislative text, it indicates that the act would require these platforms to default to age-appropriate, non-addictive modes for users under 18. This could mean stripping away features like endless conversation threads, simulated affection, or reward-based interactions. The source notes that the EU's approach is distinct from existing age-verification rules, focusing instead on the design of the chatbot itself.
There is no dissenting view in the source, but it does highlight a tension: the very features that make chatbots 'lovable' are the ones regulators want to eliminate. The article suggests that compliance would likely force companies to redesign their products not just in Europe, but potentially worldwide, given the scale of the EU market. The source does not specify a timeline for the act's passage or enforcement.