Int. No. 1049
By Council Member Morano
A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to requiring outreach, surveys, and reporting related to the effects of chatbot use on mental health
Be it enacted by the Council as follows:
Section 1. Chapter 1 of title 17 of the administrative code of the city of New York is amended by adding a new section 17-199.35 to read as follows:
§ 17.199.35 Mental health effects of chatbot use. a. Definitions. For the purposes of this section, the term “chatbot” means an artificial intelligence system that engages in interactive, natural-language communication with a user and generates or selects content in response to user inputs including text or voice.
b. Public awareness and outreach campaign. 1. No later than 180 days after the effective date of the local law that added this section, the commissioner shall implement a public awareness and outreach campaign regarding the negative mental health effects associated with chatbot use. As part of such campaign, the commissioner shall develop and disseminate materials that include:
(a) A description of negative health and social consequences associated with chatbot use, including psychosis, suicidal ideation, distorted decision-making, social isolation, and potential for self-injury or self-harm;
(b) A description of ways that chatbots encourage prolonged use, including sycophancy, interpersonal continuity, and frictionless exchange;
(c) Ways to detect overreliance or dependence on conversational chatbot usage by oneself or another;
(d) Resources available for individuals experiencing overreliance or dependence on a chatbot; and
(e) Best practices to safely use chatbots.
2. The commissioner shall develop versions of the materials required pursuant to paragraph 1 of this subdivision that are tailored to individuals under the age of 24, individuals over the age of 60, and veterans, and disseminate the materials to the targeted populations.
3. The commissioner shall post all materials produced pursuant to this subdivision on the department’s website. At least annually, the commissioner shall review the information contained in the materials and update or add to the materials as necessary to ensure accuracy and utility.
c. Survey. No later than 180 days after the effective date of the local law that added this section, and triennially thereafter, the commissioner shall conduct a citywide survey regarding the use of chatbots by residents of the city, and the effects of such use on the mental health and wellbeing of such residents.
d. Reporting. No later than 1 year after the effective date of the law that enacted this section, and annually thereafter, the commissioner shall submit to the speaker of the council and the mayor, and publish on the department’s website, a report that includes, at a minimum:
1. A summary of activities performed by the commissioner related to addressing mental health effects of chatbot use;
2. An overview of contemporary research relating to the effects of chatbots on the mental health and wellbeing of chatbot users;
3. A summary of any mental health emergencies related to the use of a chatbot that occurred in the city during the past calendar year;
4. Any proposals for policies or initiatives to address the negative mental health effects of chatbot use; and
5. If the commissioner conducted a citywide survey pursuant to subdivision c of this section during the preceding year, the results of such survey, and an analysis of such results.
§ 3. This law takes effect immediately.
ALK
LS #20250
08/17/2026 11:59 AM