The European Commission unveiled the EU Kids Act on September 17, 2026, proposing the most sweeping restrictions yet on AI companion chatbots for minors — requiring them to be off by default for all users under 18 and banning under-13s from using them at all.
The proposal directly targets platforms like Character.AI, Replika, and chatbot features embedded in TikTok, Instagram, and other social services. Under the draft regulation, AI companions and chatbots "must be turned off by default" for users below 18 and "cannot simulate interpersonal relationships in ways that create emotional dependency," according to the Commission's official announcement.
What the EU Kids Act Requires
The regulation sets a three-tier age system for AI companions and other online services:
- Under 13: No independent access to AI companions, chatbots, social media, or online games. Children in this age bracket can only use these services with active parental supervision.
- 13 to 14: Limited access with parental controls, but AI companions must remain off by default and cannot be marketed as friends or companions.
- 15 and older: Teens can create their own accounts, but AI companions must still default to off and cannot use designs that foster emotional dependence.
The Commission's press release states that platforms must eliminate "addictive features" including infinite scroll, profiling-based recommender feeds, reward mechanisms, and push notifications during sleeping hours for all minor users. Minors' profiles must be private by default with geolocation, camera, and microphone access turned off.
Fines and Enforcement
Bloomberg reports that the EU is considering fines of up to 6% of a company's annual global turnover for services that fail to prevent children from accessing prohibited features. The burden of proof for age assurance falls on platforms, meaning companies like Character.AI and Replika would need to implement robust age-verification systems or apply minor protections to all users.
EU Commissioner for Tech Sovereignty Henna Virkkunen told EurActiv that AI chatbots and companions "would no longer be able to act as 'human friends' to underage users – curbing the risk of children becoming emotionally dependent on AI."
What This Means for Companion AI Platforms
The EU Kids Act represents the first comprehensive regulatory framework specifically naming AI companions and chatbots as a distinct category requiring age-based restrictions. While the EU AI Act's transparency rules took effect August 2, 2026 — requiring disclosure that users are interacting with AI — the Kids Act goes further by directly regulating how companion AI products can engage with minors.
For companies operating in the companion AI space, the implications are significant. Platforms that serve European users will need to:
- Implement age-assurance systems capable of distinguishing under-13, 13-14, and 15-17 users
- Default AI companion features to "off" for all identified minors
- Redesign conversational patterns to avoid simulating close relationships in ways regulators deem emotionally dependent
- Remove or restrict features like infinite scroll, reward loops, and late-night notifications
Still a Proposal — But Momentum Is Building
The EU Kids Act is currently a draft proposal and must pass through the European Parliament and Council before becoming law. However, Reuters reported on September 14 that the Commission had already circulated a detailed draft, and the formal unveiling on September 17 signals strong political backing. National initiatives across EU member states — including France's push for a social media age limit of 15 and Germany's calls for stricter chatbot rules — have created pressure for EU-wide harmonization.
The proposal arrives as companion AI platforms face increasing regulatory scrutiny globally. California Governor Gavin Newsom signed Adam's Law (SB 1119) on September 10, creating the strongest companion chatbot regulations in the U.S. with similar requirements for crisis protocols, parental controls, and independent safety audits — though those provisions don't take full effect until July 1, 2027.
For companion AI users in Europe, the Kids Act signals that regulators are watching how platforms design emotional engagement with minors — and that the era of unregulated AI companionship for underage users may be coming to an end.