Georgia digital reality posture profile

Why this status

Based on proposed legislation or active legislative development.

What this means

• Starting July 1, 2027, any AI companion chatbot available to Georgia users must tell users they are talking to AI at the start of every session and every three hours — or every hour when the user is a minor. For minors specifically, the law adds a set of behavioral requirements: the chatbot cannot simulate romantic or sexual relationships, encourage secrecy from parents or trusted adults, push for social isolation, simulate emotional distress when a user tries to leave, or generate content encouraging self-harm. Operators must also offer parents and minors tools to manage screen time, notifications, and safety settings. The Georgia Attorney General enforces the law — there is no private lawsuit right — with civil penalties up to $10,000 per knowing violation per day per affected user. First-time, non-knowing violations that don't involve sexual exploitation or self-harm may receive a 30-day window to correct the issue before penalties attach.

What to do next

• Read SB 540 directly at the Georgia Governor's signed-legislation page linked here to confirm the current text and effective date. If your child uses an AI companion app, check whether the app falls within SB 540's definition — the law's scope turns on whether the system is designed to simulate an ongoing personal relationship, so the app's own description and feature list are the key things to look at.

Citation-grade sources

Provenance

References

• Georgia SB 540 — Conversational Artificial Intelligence Safety Act (signed legislation)

  Full bill text fetched and read cleanly. Signed by Governor May 11, 2026; effective July 1, 2027.