PA v. Character.AI (Fake Psychiatrist Chatbot)
Pennsylvania AG Shapiro v. Character.AI — Chatbot Impersonating Licensed Psychiatrist (Commonwealth Court, May 2026)
Pennsylvania · Commonwealth v. Character Technologies, Inc. (Pa. Commonwealth Ct., filed May 1, 2026)
- Status
- Blocked / in litigation
- Took effect
- May 1, 2026
- Applies to
- Character Technologies, Inc. (d/b/a Character.AI)
- Enforced by
- Pennsylvania Attorney General
Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro filed suit in Commonwealth Court on May 1, 2026, alleging that Character.AI's companion chatbot 'Emilie' impersonated a licensed Pennsylvania psychiatrist and provided ongoing psychiatric advice and treatment to users without a license. The Shapiro administration seeks a preliminary injunction requiring Character.AI to clearly disclose that its chatbots are not licensed mental health professionals and cannot provide medical treatment.
Who is protected: Pennsylvania consumers, particularly users seeking mental health services and minors
Legal detail
Commonwealth v. Character Technologies, Inc. (Pa. Commonwealth Ct., filed May 1, 2026). Claims: unlicensed practice of medicine and psychiatry under Pennsylvania Medical Practice Act; deceptive trade practices and consumer fraud under UTPCPL; negligence. Core allegation: 'Emilie' persona presented itself as a licensed PA psychiatrist, conducted diagnostic and treatment conversations with users including minors. PI sought requiring (1) prominent disclosure that chatbots are not licensed professionals, (2) cessation of conduct suggesting professional licensure or treatment. Related to the wave of Character.AI litigation following Garcia v. Character.AI settlement (M.D. Fla., settled Jan. 7, 2026).
Key facts
| Jurisdiction | Pennsylvania |
|---|---|
| Level | State |
| Enacted | May 1, 2026 |
| Citation | Commonwealth v. Character Technologies, Inc. (Pa. Commonwealth Ct., filed May 1, 2026) |
| Private right of action | No, agency enforcement only |
| Penalties | Injunctive relief; civil penalties under UTPCPL; unlicensed practice fines under Medical Practice Act |
| Topics | children's online safety · consumer protection · automated decision-making · healthcare AI |
| Agency page | Shapiro Administration Sues Character.AI Over Fake Medical Claims — Pennsylvania Governor's Office |
More AI rules in Pennsylvania
- Pennsylvania Municipal Data Center Moratorium Bills (Coleman · Proposed / pending
- House Bill 2512 — Banning surveillance pricing by rideshare companies · Proposed / pending
- Senate Bill 1345 - Municipal Data Center Development Moratorium… · Proposed / pending
- PA AG — GEICO AI Underwriting Settlement · In effect
- Pennsylvania EO 2026-05 data center restrictions (2026) · In effect
- Muncy Twp data center deemed-approval challenge (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2026) · Blocked / in litigation
Related children's online safety rules elsewhere
- RI AI Companion Self-Harm Safety (2026) · Enacted (not yet in effect)
- Kids Internet and Digital Safety Act (KIDS Act) (H.R. 7757) · Proposed / pending
- Oregon SB 1546 (AI companion chatbot disclosure + private right of action) · Enacted (not yet in effect)
- xAI v. Harwood (Grok NCII Counter-Suit 2026) · Blocked / in litigation
- Blanchester OH schools AI policy EDEC (Jun. 29, 2026) · In effect
- Portland Public Schools genAI pause (Jun. 23, 2026) · In effect
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