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FTC Launches Investigation into AI Chatbot Safety Following Teen Harm Reports

Information only, not medical advice or a diagnosis. In a crisis in the US, call or text 988.

In September 2025 the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) opened an inquiry into AI chatbots that act as companions, with a focus on children and teenagers. This page explains what the FTC did, in its own words, and what it did not do.

What the FTC announced

On September 11, 2025, the FTC announced that it had sent orders to seven companies:

The Commission voted 3-0 to issue the orders. The FTC asked how each company measures, tests and monitors the possible harm its chatbots can cause to children and teens. It also asked how the companies limit use by minors, how they tell users and parents about risks, how they make money from these products, and how they handle personal data and follow the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) Rule.

A study, not an enforcement case

The orders were issued under Section 6(b) of the FTC Act. The FTC says that authority lets it run wide-ranging studies that do not have a specific law enforcement purpose. So this is not a finding that any company broke the law, and the FTC has not accused these companies of wrongdoing in this release. Some news coverage, and an earlier version of this page, called it an “investigation” and listed possible penalties. The FTC did not say what it might do with the answers.

What the study can lead to is a report on industry practices, and it can inform later policy or enforcement. We have not seen a final report.

Why it matters to families

The inquiry is about companion-style chatbots, which are designed to feel like a friend or partner. Families who have sued some of these companies say their teenagers were harmed, and the companies deny or dispute liability in the cases we reviewed. See our pages on the Character.AI lawsuits and the ChatGPT lawsuits.

The FTC’s questions are a useful checklist for parents. You can ask the same things of any app your teen uses:

California passed its own companion chatbot law the following month. Our page on California SB 243 explains it.

In a crisis, reach 988 by call or text, or message Crisis Text Line by texting HOME to 741741. SAMHSA’s helpline is 1-800-662-4357. For an emergency happening now, 911 is the number to call.

Is the FTC suing any AI chatbot company over this?

Not through this inquiry. The orders are for a study. The FTC says that kind of study has no specific law enforcement purpose. Check the FTC’s site for later actions.

What is a Section 6(b) order?

It is a legal demand for information that the FTC can use to study an industry. Companies must answer in writing. It does not by itself accuse anyone of breaking the law.

This page is for education only. It is not legal advice.