Gov. Ferguson signs Washington’s first AI chatbot safety law for minors

Washington Governor Bob Ferguson signed House Bill 2225 (HB 2225) into law Thursday, making Washington the first state in the nation to enact AI chatbot regulation specifically designed to protect minors from harmful and manipulative content.

HB 2225 mandates that AI platforms detect potential self-harm indicators, provide crisis support resources, and restrict inappropriate or exploitative content when engaging with underage users, according to KING 5.

What House Bill 2225 requires AI platforms to do

Washington becomes the nation’s pioneer in establishing AI safety regulations specifically protecting minors after increased concerns over the risks related to the ever-growing tech.

The legislation follows mounting concerns about how AI technology affects at-risk youth. As Ferguson signed the bill, he mentioned the strong potential in the technology, though it does come with some risks.

“AI, of course, has incredible potential to transform society. At the same time, there are risks that we must mitigate as a state, especially to young people,” Ferguson said, according to KING 5.

The law also bans manipulative dark patterns targeting young users

The law also targets AI software design practices, barring developers from implementing manipulative engagement techniques — known in the industry as dark patterns — that exploit feelings of loneliness, guilt, or abandonment to keep minors interacting with AI chatbots for longer periods of time.

Researchers have said that the concerns moving the legislation forward are strong and have merit.

“We’ve learned from social media that tech companies can’t be relied on to regulate themselves. So we really need to step up and regulate and pass legislation that has real teeth. I’m very pleased about this,” Katie Davis, co-director of the University of Washington’s Center for Digital Youth, told KING 5.

Supporters argued that the bill includes a well-balanced approach that supports heightened safety while also remaining open to innovation.

“Mitigating the risk, but trying to take on some of the benefits as well,” Danica Noble with the Washington State PTA, who is in favor of the bill, said. “I like Washington’s approach, because it’s careful not to squash innovation, and also to make sure that there’s room for the benefits of AI, like in the classroom, for tutors and for translators.”

Tech industry warns law targets far more than harmful AI outliers

Industry representatives opposed the new legislation, warning that the new law is based on “horrific outliers” and limits access to features that several Washington companies use each day.

“The risk is legislating based on rare, horrific outliers rather than the real structure of the tech or the deeply complex human factors that drive suicide,” Amy Harris, director of government affairs at the Washington Technology Industry Association, said during public comment. “It would regulate a much broader set of AI tools that Washington companies use every day for customer support, education, and mental health resources.”

Olympia father who lost a son testified in support of the new law

An Olympia father, Aaron Ping, testified during the bill’s signing due to his teenage son’s death last year after purchasing lethal drugs through social media.

Ping noted that he had no knowledge of the limited protections that existed prior to his son’s tragic death.

“I’m thrilled just to see some basic level accountability being built into this, kind of on the forefront. We’re getting ahead of the curve,” Ping said, according to KING 5.

The new law is slated to go into effect at the beginning of next year.

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