AI Chatbot Developers Probed on How They Protect Children

Companies that fail to respond to eSafety’s child-safety inquiry could face fines of up to $825,000 per day.

Australia’s eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant addresses the National Press Club in Canberra, Australia, on June 24, 2025. AAP Image/Lukas Coch

Australia’s eSafety Commissioner has launched a crackdown on AI chatbots accused of exposing minors to sexualised and self-harm content, amid a sharp rise in online child exploitation cases.

Legal notices have been issued to four global AI companion platforms: Character Technologies (character.ai), Glimpse.AI (Nomi), Chai Research Corp (Chai), and Chub AI Inc. (Chub.ai), requiring them to explain how they protect minors.