UK Government Plans AI Chatbot Restrictions for Under-16s

“PM Starmer Targets AI Chatbot Loopholes and Social Media Addiction as Britain Races to Protect Children Online”

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No More Free Pass


Late at night, while most parents think their kids are asleep, many children are wide awake, talking to an AI chatbot. Not a friend. Not a family member. A machine. And right now, nothing is stopping them.

That is the reality Keir Starmer wants to change. On 16 February 2026, the UK government stepped up and announced real, meaningful action around AI chatbot child safety in the UK. The days of tech companies doing whatever they want while children pay the price are over.

Why This Matters More Than People Realise


Government reports have confirmed what many parents already feared. These platforms can dish out harmful advice, push kids toward dangerous thinking, and create emotional attachments that young minds are not built to handle. The Online Safety Act AI loophole has allowed this to go on for far too long, and now the clock is ticking for tech firms to get their houses in order.

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What the New Rules Actually Mean


The children AI chatbot restrictions 2026 will bring real teeth to online safety laws. Here is what is changing. Age verification will no longer be a checkbox; it will be a genuine barrier that actually works. Addictive design features that keep children hooked will have to go. AI tools that produce false or harmful responses will need to be fixed before they reach young users. Companies that fail to act will face massive fines, just as they would under existing Online Safety Act rules.

On top of this, a fast-tracked review into social media restrictions for under-16s has begun, showing that Keir Starmer's online safety agenda goes far beyond one announcement.

The Bigger Picture


This is not about being anti-technology. It is about being pro-child. The AI chatbot ban on unchecked access is a long-overdue wake-up call. Britain is finally saying what millions of parents have been thinking for years: our children deserve better than the wild west of the internet.

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