Albany, NY (WRGB) — New York is cracking down on two fast-growing technologies with new laws signed by Gov. Kathy Hochul aimed at protecting children from unsafe AI chatbot features and strengthening security requirements for internet-connected baby monitors sold in the state.
Hochul said the measures are intended to prevent companies from offering chatbots to children that could encourage self-harm or create unhealthy emotional dependency, and to stop hackers from accessing baby monitors.
Attorney Ryan McCall of McCall, Sweeney & Silva, P.C., raised questions about how the new requirements will be enforced, particularly around age verification.
“I'm interested to see how it shakes out as far as what types of identification they're going to be able to use,” McCall said. “I've seen people float around the idea of using school IDs. They're not federally issued.”
McCall also said that while the baby monitor law requires security features and warning labels, hacking remains a persistent threat.
“Now, that's not to say that it isn't going to happen. We see technology being hacked on almost a daily basis in our society,” he said.
Click HERE to read Attorney McCall’s input on these new developments.