Privacy
Tell Congress: Oppose the GUARD Act
Congress is moving quickly on the GUARD Act, with a key vote expected Thursday. This bill would force AI chatbots to verify every user’s age, ban teens from using many everyday digital tools, and require companies to collect sensitive ID or biometric data before allowing people to speak, learn, or ask questions online.
The GUARD Act may look like a child-safety bill, but in practice it’s a sweeping age-gating mandate that could apply to nearly every public-facing chatbot, from customer service tools to search assistants. It would require companies to collect sensitive identity data and chill online speech. The bill would also block teens from tools they rely on every day—as well as adults who cannot prove they are over 18.
EFF has long warned that age-verification laws undermine free expression, privacy, and competition. The GUARD Act is no different. It would make the internet less free, less private, and less accessible—while consolidating power in the largest tech companies and pushing smaller developers out.
There are real concerns about harms caused by AI systems, especially for young people. But the GUARD Act responds with a blunt, overbroad solution. Instead of addressing specific risks, it imposes sweeping restrictions that affect us all.
Congress should reject the GUARD Act and focus on policies that protect users without sacrificing privacy and access.
Tell your representatives to oppose the GUARD Act now.
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