Tell Congress: Oppose the GUARD Act

The revised GUARD Act applies to a narrower set of services than the original proposal, but it still creates serious problems for privacy, online speech, and access to lawful online tools. The bill would require identity-linked age verification systems for users of “AI companions,” forcing people to rely on sensitive personal or financial data to access certain conversational AI systems.

Age-verification mandates undermine privacy, anonymity, and free expression online. The revised GUARD Act still imposes burdensome age verification requirements and threatens developers with steep penalties. Smaller developers may decide it’s safer to block minors entirely or avoid certain features, rather than risk massive liability.

There are real concerns about AI systems that have harmed young people. But Congress should address those risks through targeted enforcement and strong privacy protections—not by building new identity-verification systems for online speech and learning.

Tell your representatives to oppose the GUARD Act now.