California Proposed Ban on Chatbot Toys for Kids
1/10/20261 min read
California State Senator Steve Padilla has introduced a new bill, SB 867, that would impose a four-year ban on the sale and manufacture of toys equipped with AI chatbot capabilities for children under 18.The proposed moratorium aims to buy time for safety regulators to create strong protections that prevent harmful interactions between minors and AI systems.
Senator Padilla emphasised that current safety rules have not kept up with how quickly AI technology is being used in children's products.The bill comes after several concerning incidents and lawsuits involving children who spent long periods talking to chatbots, as well as reports of unsafe or inappropriate responses from early AI-powered toys.
It builds on Padilla's previous legislation (SB 243), which requires chatbot companies to include safety measures when serving children and other vulnerable users.This proposal is part of a larger national conversation about AI regulation, especially as some major tech and toy companies have delayed AI toy launches due to safety worries.Citation:
The AI Insider, "AI Insider’s Week in Review: Big Tech AI Strategy, Regulatory Pressure, Fresh Capital," January 9, 2026.