SENATE DOCKET, NO. 2223 FILED ON: 1/17/2025
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 243
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The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Barry R. Finegold
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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:
The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
An Act requiring consumer notification for chatbot systems.
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PETITION OF:
Name: | District/Address: |
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Barry R. Finegold | Second Essex and Middlesex |
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Pavel M. Payano | First Essex | 11/5/2025 |
SENATE DOCKET, NO. 2223 FILED ON: 1/17/2025
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 243
By Mr. Finegold, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 243) of Barry R. Finegold for legislation to require consumer notification for software or computer program that simulates human conversation or chatter through text or voice interactions. Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure. |
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Fourth General Court
(2025-2026)
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An Act requiring consumer notification for chatbot systems.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
SECTION 1. Chapter 93 of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding the following new section:-
Section 115. Disclosure of computerized communications.
(a) For the purposes of this section, the following words shall have the following meanings unless the context clearly requires otherwise:
“Bot”, an automated online account wherein all or substantially all of the actions or posts of that account are not the result of a person including, but not limited to, a chatbot, artificial intelligence agent, avatar or other computer technology that engages in a textual or aural conversation.
“Online”, appearing on any public-facing Internet website, web application or digital application, including a social network or publication.
(b) It is hereby declared to be an unfair and deceptive act or practice in violation of section 2 of chapter 93A for any person to engage in a commercial transaction or trade practice with a consumer of any kind in which the consumer is communicating or otherwise interacting with a bot that may mislead or deceive a reasonable person to believe they are engaging with a human, regardless of whether such consumer is in fact misled, deceived or damaged thereby; provided, however, that a person utilizing or deploying a bot shall not be liable under this section if the consumer is notified in a clear and conspicuous fashion that they are communicating with a computer rather than a human being.