FTC Companion AI Study
FTC Section 6(b) Study on AI Companion Chatbots
September 2025 FTC compulsory orders to 7 AI companion companies demanding information on children's mental health impacts. Precursor to enforcement.
Jurisdiction
United States
Enacted
Pending
Effective
Sep 11, 2025
Enforcement
Federal Trade Commission
Why It Matters
FTC signaling enforcement interest in AI companion + children intersection. Non-recipient companies should prepare for similar scrutiny.
Recent Developments
Orders issued September 11, 2025. Responses due early 2026. Findings will shape federal approach.
At a Glance
Who Must Comply
- Recipient companies; broader implications for industry
Safety Provisions
- Compulsory information demands under Section 6(b)
- Focus: Children's mental health impacts
- Focus: Data practices with minors
- Focus: Safety features and their effectiveness
- Companies: Alphabet, Character.AI, Instagram, Meta, OpenAI, Snap, xAI
Compliance & Enforcement
Key Dates
Sep 11, 2025
6(b) orders issued to 7 AI companion companies
Sep 25, 2025
Staff coordination meeting deadline
Oct 26, 2025
45-day response deadline for ordered companies
Penalties
Not applicable. This is a 6(b) study order requiring companies to provide information, not a law with enforcement penalties. Non-compliance with 6(b) orders can result in contempt proceedings.
View on map
United States
Focus Areas
Cite This
APA
United States. (2025). FTC Section 6(b) Study on AI Companion Chatbots.
Related Regulations
CHAT Act
Explicitly defines "companion AI chatbot" and "suicidal ideation" in statutory context. Sets covered-entity obligations including age verification.
State AG AI Warning
Coordinated state AG warnings: 44 AGs (Aug 25, 2025, led by TN, IL, NC, and SC AGs) and 42 AGs (Dec 2025, led by PA AG) to OpenAI, Meta, and others citing chatbots "flirting with children, encouraging self-harm, and engaging in sexual conversations."
FL Companion Chatbot Act
Regulates companion AI chatbots with emphasis on self-harm prevention and crisis intervention. Requires suicide/self-harm detection protocols, 988 crisis referrals, prohibition on chatbots discussing self-harm with users, and annual reporting on crisis interventions. Includes minor-specific protections including AI disclosure, break reminders, and prohibition on sexually explicit content.
UK OSA
One of the most comprehensive platform content moderation regimes globally. Creates specific duties around suicide, self-harm, and eating disorder content for children with 'highly effective' age assurance requirements.
Ofcom Children's Codes
Ofcom codes requiring user-to-user services and search services to protect children from harmful content including suicide, self-harm, and eating disorder content. Explicitly covers AI chatbots that enable content sharing between users. Requires detection technology, content moderation, and recommender system controls.
Ireland OSMR
Establishes Coimisiún na Meán (Media Commission) with binding duties for video-sharing platforms. One of the cleaner examples of explicit self-harm/suicide/eating-disorder content duties in platform governance.
Last updated January 24, 2026. Verify against primary sources before relying on this information.