# Australia’s digital duty-of-care bill would ban AI chatbots from fostering ‘emotional intimacy’ with children

https://mins.news/en/item/118529

- The Guardian, 2026-10-28 05:31 UTC
- Politics
- Original: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/oct/28/emotional-intimacy-ai-chatbots-ban-digital-duty-of-care-laws-australian-politics

> Australia’s House of Representatives passed a bill setting online safety standards for social media, games, apps and chatbots. It would ban material or conduct that simulates emotional intimacy and encourages children to depend on chatbots instead of human relationships. The bill now goes to the Senate, while the government faces pressure to establish an external complaints watchdog for social media and AI.

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