A Surveillance Mandate Disguised As Child Safety: Why the GUARD Act Won't Keep Us Safe

Sen. Hawley, Sen. Blumenthal, Sen. Britt, Sen. Warner, and Sen. Murphy's introduction of the GUARD Act, which would require AI chatbots to verify all users' ages and prohibit minors from using AI tools, marks a significant shift in the regulatory landscape for AI-powered websites. This means that website owners who utilize AI chatbots or tools on their platforms will need to adapt to the new age verification requirements, potentially affecting their user engagement and traffic. The steep criminal penalties associated with non-compliance will also necessitate website owners to re-evaluate their content policies and ensure they are aligned with the proposed regulations. To prepare for the potential implications of the GUARD Act, website owners should take the following steps: review their current AI chatbot integrations and assess the feasibility of implementing age verification measures, update their llms.txt files to reflect any changes in their AI-powered content policies, and monitor the progression of the bill to stay informed about any developments that may impact their website operations.