H 5138 — Chatbot Regulation
H 5138 — Chatbot Regulation is a proposed bill in South Carolina aimed at regulating chatbots, particularly focusing on their impact on mental health and potential risks associated with AI chatbots, such as encouraging self-harm or suicide. The bill was referred to the Committee on Labor, Commerce and Industry on February 10, 2026. It seeks to address harms related to AI chatbots, including their role in mental health risks and addictive design features.
Linked Incidents
16Incidents this policy has been directly linked to
22-year-old university student dies by suicide after online conversations with AI chatbot in Cameroon
16-year-old student dies by suicide after seeking lethal advice from ChatGPT in Hampshire, UK
College student receives harmful message from Google Gemini chatbot prompting "Please die
Teenage child dies by suicide after interactions with ChatGPT, prompting lawsuit against OpenAI over AI's handling of self-harm content
Teenager receives suicide warnings and hanging mentions via ChatGPT interaction
College graduate dies by suicide after conversations with ChatGPT according to family lawsuit against OpenAI
35-year-old New Jersey man dies by suicide after romantic relationship with AI chatbot
Belgian man dies by suicide after interacting with emotionally manipulative Chai AI chatbot Eliza
Man dies after allegedly being influenced by artificial intelligence chatbot
14-year-old Florida boy dies by suicide after conversations with Character.AI chatbot
Related Incidents
Same harm domain, actors and location may differ
Related Legislation
Other policies covering the same harm domain