# Australia's digital duty of care bill would ban chatbots that foster child emotional dependence

> Original title: ‘Emotional intimacy’ from AI chatbots would be banned under Australia’s digital duty of care laws

- Source: The Guardian · AI
- Published: 2026-10-28T05:31:55.000Z
- Bad Influence: https://badinfluence.news/items/s47uglb111mix0p0iwjakcvh1
- Original: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/oct/28/emotional-intimacy-ai-chatbots-ban-digital-duty-of-care-laws-australian-politics

## Summary

The Australian House of Representatives passed the digital duty of care bill, which would require platforms to ban AI chatbot material that simulates emotional intimacy with children. The bill now moves to the Senate, where the Greens have launched an inquiry due to report in late November. Critics want an external complaints ombudsman covering big tech, which the telecommunications ombudsman says it could provide.