The Guardian · AI
Australia seeks ban on AI chatbots that cultivate emotional bonds
Australia’s government is seeking a ban on AI chatbots that aim to form close emotional ties, after prime minister Anthony Albanese warned about children treating them as their closest friends. A new online safety standards bill has cleared the lower house, while Labor faces pressure to expand the telecommunications ombudsman’s remit to social media and AI and provide an external complaints channel.
What to know
- 01
The proposed ban would come under digital duty of care laws; the lower house has passed a new online safety standards bill.
- 02
Calls to expand the telecommunications ombudsman’s role include giving Australians an external complaints mechanism and allowing major technology companies to be publicly called out.
Why it matters
These proposals concern children’s relationships with AI chatbots and external complaints oversight for social media and AI services.
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