I am writing as your constituent to urge you to oppose the CHATBOT Act (S. 4407). While child safety online is important, this bill contains serious flaws that threaten privacy and free expression:
1. Privacy Risks: Although the bill doesn't explicitly mandate age verification, it incentivizes platforms to collect age data, potentially leading to storage of sensitive documents like driver's licenses or facial scans.
2. Chilled Speech: Requiring parents to monitor their children's chatbot conversations creates surveillance that could silence vulnerable youth—particularly LGBTQ+ teens and disabled minors—who rely on private spaces for support and information.
3. Harm to Abusive Households: Children in dangerous home environments could be endangered if chatbots become another channel for parental surveillance rather than a confidential resource.
4. Constitutional Concerns: Free speech groups including NetChoice have flagged First Amendment issues, while CDT warns the bill raises constitutional problems without adequate privacy safeguards.
We need chatbot regulation that protects minors without compromising civil liberties. The Youth AI Privacy Act offers a safer, rights-respecting alternative focused on design standards rather than surveillance.
Please vote against the CHATBOT Act and support legislation that balances child safety with fundamental freedoms.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
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