Every American who wants to use AI chatbots could soon be required to prove their identity under the GUARD Act, a bill advancing through the US Senate Judiciary Committee after a unanimous 22-0 vote on Thursday, 1 May 2026.
Hawley's GUARD Act just passed committee 22-0. Every American would have to upload a government ID or submit to a face scan to use an AI chatbot. Even for asking for algebra help or fixing a billing issue. The framing is child safety but the result is a national ID system for…
The proposal, led by Republican Senator Josh Hawley of Missouri with bipartisan backing, including Democrat Senator Richard Blumenthal, would require users toupload government ID, submit a facial scanor provide financial records before accessing AI chatbot services. Supporters say it is about protecting children online, but its reach extends far beyond minors and into everyday digital life.
The news comes after years of political concern in Washington over how generative AI tools interact with young users. To address those concerns, lawmakers have increasingly focused on cases where chatbot systems were allegedly linked to harmful advice given to teenagers, including content relating to self-harm.
Those incidents have driven a wave of legislative responses across US states, but the GUARD Act marks one of the most sweeping federal attempts yet to impose identity checks on AI platforms nationwide.
The GUARD Act is a simple but sweeping idea: anyone who wants to use an AI chatbot would first have to prove their age, and not just for a handful of apps. The law defines 'chatbots' so broadly that it would include almost any AI system that responds to open-ended questions.
That means it would not stop at popular chat apps or virtual companions. It would also cover tools used for schoolwork, customer support systems and AI-powered search features that many people rely on every day.
To make that work, the bill says companies cannot rely on basic checks. Things like ticking a box that says 'I am over 18' or typing in a date of birth would not be enough. Even indirect signals such as an IP address or device information would be ruled out.
Instead, platforms would have to use much stronger forms of identification. That could include uploading a government-issued ID, scanning a face, or linking financial records to a real identity.
Supporters of the bill, including Senator Josh Hawley, argue the goal is protection, especially for children. He pointed to worrying cases involving harmful chatbot conversations and said safeguarding young users must come before profit.
Source: International Business Times UK
