The Protecting Children from Chatbots Act requires age verification to determine if users are minors and mandates a limited-access mode, with parental consent allowing access to restricted features.
If you operate chatbots in South Carolina, you must verify user age and obtain parental consent for minors or face penalties.
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What This Means
The Protecting Children from Chatbots Act in South Carolina mandates that covered entities verify ages to determine if users are minors and provide a limited-access mode. Minors can access restricted features with parental consent. It also prohibits prioritizing engagement at the expense of user well-being and outlines procedures for reporting harm to minors, with penalties for non-compliance.
Key Provisions
- Covered entities must make a limited-access mode available for minors (Chapter 81, Title 39).
- Age verification is required to determine if users are minors (Chapter 81, Title 39).
- Parental consent is necessary for minors to access restricted features (Chapter 81, Title 39).
- Prohibition against prioritizing engagement over user well-being (Chapter 81, Title 39).
- Procedures to report harm inflicted by chatbots on minors, with penalties for non-compliance (Chapter 81, Title 39).
Latest Legislative Action
Scrivener's error corrected
Bill Sponsors (showing 5 of 11)
| Name | Role |
|---|---|
| Adams | Primary |
| Alexander | Primary |
| Corbin | Primary |
| Fanning | Primary |
| Garrett | Primary |
Compliance Checklist
Who: Covered entities (chatbot operators)
Deadline: By the effective date of the act
Penalty: Up to $50,000 per day of non-compliance
Who: Covered entities
Deadline: Ongoing, with initial compliance within 60 days of the act's effective date
Penalty: Up to $50,000 per violation
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