Kelly, Justice Introduce Bipartisan ‘Senior Chatbot Protection Act’ to Safeguard Older Americans from AI Scams

Gila Herald Staff Reports

WASHINGTON, D.C. — In an effort to protect older adults from increasingly sophisticated artificial intelligence scams and deceptive digital tools, U.S. Senator Mark Kelly (D-AZ) joined Senator Jim Justice (R-WV) to introduce the Senior Chatbot Protection Act.

The legislation aims to establish transparency and security standards across the AI industry, requiring companies that deploy chatbots and voice assistants to provide explicit disclosures, safeguard sensitive user conversations, and eliminate predatory design practices.

Guardrails for Vulnerable Users

The bipartisan initiative comes in response to rising concerns over financial exploitation and emotional manipulation of older Americans by autonomous systems.

“AI is a powerful tool that can help seniors live more independently. It can help them manage their finances, keep track of medications and doctor’s appointments, and navigate everyday tasks that become more challenging with age,” said Sen. Mark Kelly. “But seniors need to know when they’re talking to a machine, what its limits are, and how their information is being used to make sure they aren’t being scammed or put at risk.”

Co-sponsor Sen. Jim Justice emphasized that while AI offers significant opportunities for support and companionship, safeguards are essential when high-stakes decisions are involved.

“A.I. chatbots are an incredible tool for older Americans, but we can’t miss the opportunity to protect our seniors who rely on chatbots for support, companionship, and even important decisions during critical times,” Justice stated. “The Senior Chatbot Protection Act sets transparency standards so our seniors know they are speaking with a chatbot and not a real person—whether in everyday conversations or when making high-stakes decisions.”

Key Provisions of the Legislation

The Senior Chatbot Protection Act focuses on four main pillars designed to protect senior citizens while preserving user autonomy:

• Clear AI Disclosures: Companies must inform users whenever they are interacting with an AI system and are strictly prohibited from falsely portraying chatbots as human beings or licensed professionals.
• Heightened Protections for Sensitive Matters: Additional warnings and referrals to professional human guidance are mandated whenever interactions touch upon healthcare, estate planning, guardianship, or acute personal crises.
• Data & Privacy Safeguards: Limits are imposed on using conversational data for targeted advertising, profiling, third-party sharing, or model training without explicit consent. Users must also be provided a straightforward method to delete conversation history.
• Prohibition of Deceptive Design: Prevents developers from employing engagement techniques that foster excessive reliance, pressure users to remain engaged, or discourage seeking advice from family members and credentialed experts.

Additionally, the bill mandates that the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) develop voluntary operational guidance tailored specifically to AI systems interacting with older adults.

Rising Toll of Online Scams

The urgency behind the legislation is underscored by alarming statistics from law enforcement agencies. According to recent FBI data, Americans over the age of 60 submitted more than 201,000 internet crime complaints in 2025, accounting for over $7.7 billion in reported financial losses.

Tragic real-world consequences have also drawn national attention, including a recent report covering a cognitively impaired 76-year-old New Jersey man who tragically lost his life while traveling to meet an entity he believed was a real person, but was in fact an AI chatbot.

The bill expands on Sen. Kelly’s broader legislative package regarding artificial intelligence oversight, including the Aging with AI Act introduced earlier this summer to study the overall societal impacts of AI deployment on elderly demographics. The Senate Special Committee on Aging is scheduled to hold a dedicated hearing on AI safety and senior fraud next week.