Minor
Any person under 18 years of age, subject to enhanced safeguards under the Act.
How the laws define this
Regulatory standards converge on defining a minor as an individual under 18 years of age, triggering heightened safeguards, specific disclosure requirements, and safety protocols. Under Washington state law, the Artificial Intelligence Disclosure and Safety Act, the Agricultural Data Privacy Act and the Conversational Artificial Intelligence Safety Act, and a bill for an act establishing requirements and guidelines for conversational AI services, a minor is simply any person under eighteen years old. Similarly, California SB 243 - Companion Chatbot Disclosure Requirements recognizes this benchmark, noting that minors are users under a certain age, typically 18 under California law. The main divergence lies in the precise age boundary established across jurisdictions. Rather than covering everyone under 18, the New Jersey Age-Appropriate Design Code explicitly narrows the term to mean an individual aged 13 through 17, creating a distinct age bracket for its specific protections.
Synthesised from the 7 statutory definitions below. Each one is quoted in full, with its source.
How jurisdictions differ
What is distinctive in each definition, binding law in force first. Showing 6 of the 7 instruments that define this term; all are listed under Definitions below.
| Jurisdiction | Instrument | Status | What is distinctive |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington, United States | Concerning sexually explicit depictions of minors | In Force | Limits minors to those under eighteen whose protection focuses on criminalizing AI-generated child sexual abuse material. |
| Hawaii, United States | Artificial Intelligence Disclosure and Safety Act | In Force | Adds implementation of heightened safeguards including disclosure requirements and prohibitions against certain profiling. |
| Iowa, United States | A bill for an act establishing requirements and guidelines for conversational AI services, and providing civil penalties, and including applicability provisions. | In Force | Provides a plain definition without additional age qualifiers or specific protections mentioned. |
| California, United States | California SB 243 - Companion Chatbot Disclosure Requirements | In Force | Specifies minors as users the operator knows to be under a certain age, typically 18, triggering heightened disclosure and safety protocols. |
| Nebraska, United States | Adopt the Agricultural Data Privacy Act and the Conversational Artificial Intelligence Safety Act | Awaiting Entry | Offers a plain definition of individuals under eighteen years in a pending act awaiting entry. |
| New Jersey, United States | New Jersey Age-Appropriate Design Code | Awaiting Entry | Narrows minors to individuals aged 13 through 17 for specific protections under the Age-Appropriate Design Code. |
Definitions (9)
Any person under 18 years of age, for whom the Act mandates enhanced safeguards and specific requirements, including preventing sexually explicit content and manipulative engagement.
An individual under the age of eighteen years, as defined by Washington state law, whose protection is the focus of this legislation.
An individual under the age of eighteen years.
Refers to an individual under the age of eighteen. The Act implements heightened safeguards for minors, including specific disclosure requirements and prohibitions against certain profiling.
An individual under eighteen years of age.
An individual under 18 years of age.
As defined by the Act, a minor is an individual aged 13 through 17. This age group receives specific protections under the New Jersey Age-Appropriate Design Code.
Users whom the operator knows to be under a certain age, typically 18 in California law. The law mandates heightened disclosure and safety protocols for interactions involving underage individuals.
Any individual person who has not reached eighteen years of age. Under Hawaii Act 248, known or reasonably certain minor status triggers specific mandatory safety protections, hourly break disclaimers, and engagement limits.
Questions and answers
How does Washington define minors for AI-generated abuse material?
Washington defines a minor as an individual under eighteen whose protection focuses on criminalizing AI-generated child sexual abuse material. This expands safeguards against fabricated depictions.
What safeguards apply to minors under Hawaii's AI Act?
Hawaii's Act defines minors as individuals under eighteen and implements heightened safeguards including disclosure requirements and prohibitions against certain profiling for conversational AI companions.
Does the age range for minors vary across US states?
Most definitions set minors under eighteen, but New Jersey narrows it to ages 13 through 17 under its Age-Appropriate Design Code, while others like California reference users known to be under a certain age typically 18.