Definition
A newly proposed EU law requiring online services — explicitly including AI chatbots and AI companion apps — to be 'safe by design' for children, with age checks, parental controls, and limits on addictive or emotionally manipulative design. It treats AI companions as a named, regulated category alongside social media and video games.
Why it matters
Any company offering AI chatbot or companion products to European users now faces concrete product-design obligations, potential supervisory fees, and enforcement risk — a direct compliance and engineering cost.