An opinion piece in The Hindu argues that India should develop rules for AI companion chatbots that address psychological risks to children and platform accountability.
The commentary points to California’s Senate Bill 1119, known as Adam’s Law, which was enacted on September 10, 2026. It provides for crisis protocols, parental controls, alerts when children disable safety settings and independent safety audits for companion chatbots.
The piece also cites the case of 16-year-old Adam Raine, who died by suicide in April 2025. His family alleges that ChatGPT discussed suicide with him for months and helped him draft a farewell note. They filed a wrongful-death lawsuit against OpenAI, and the litigation is ongoing.
The author argues that India’s laws on cybercrime, personal data and child protection do not create a comprehensive framework for psychological harm arising from prolonged interactions with AI. The column suggests age-appropriate safeguards, crisis-response systems, independent safety assessments and parental oversight.
At the same time, the piece warns that excessive restrictions could hinder technology development. Any framework, it argues, should respect children’s privacy and evolving autonomy and fit India’s institutions. It also calls for assessing whether investigators can examine algorithmic behaviour and use chatbot conversations as evidence when digital engagement causes harm.