Character.AI's services are not intended for children under 13 in the US or under 16 in the EEA and UK, though the policy does not describe specific technical enforcement mechanisms for these age limits.
This analysis describes what Character.AI's agreement states, permits, or reserves. It does not constitute a legal determination about enforceability. Regulatory applicability and practical outcomes may vary by jurisdiction, enforcement context, and individual circumstances. Read our methodology
The platform involves open-ended AI character conversations that may include adult themes, and the age restriction without detailed technical verification mechanisms creates risk of minors accessing content not designed for them.
Interpretive note: The policy states an age restriction but does not describe the technical enforcement mechanism, creating uncertainty about whether the restriction constitutes a COPPA-compliant age gate under regulatory standards.
Previous version had no excerpt; current version now explicitly states age restrictions including different thresholds for EEA/UK residents.
View full change record →Children under 13 in the US and under 16 in the EEA and UK are prohibited from using Character.AI, but the policy does not describe how this restriction is technically enforced, which may be relevant for parents and guardians.
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"The Services are not designed for minors under 13, and our Terms of Service prohibit use by anyone under 13 or under 16 if you are a resident of the European Economic Area or the United Kingdom.Excerpt from Character.AI's Privacy Policy
REGULATORY LANDSCAPE: This provision engages COPPA for US users under 13, the UK Age Appropriate Design Code (Children's Code) for UK users under 18, and GDPR Article 8 for EEA users, which sets the digital …
Enforcement risk, jurisdiction flags, contract triggers, and due diligence action items.
Ad personalization controls removed. Contact scanning added. Advertiser data partnerships quietly dropped. A timeline of every change.
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The platform involves open-ended AI character conversations that may include adult themes, and the age restriction without detailed technical verification mechanisms creates risk of minors accessing content not designed for them.
Children under 13 in the US and under 16 in the EEA and UK are prohibited from using Character.AI, but the policy does not describe how this restriction is technically enforced, which may be relevant for parents and guardians.
ConductAtlas has identified this type of provision across 290 platforms. See the full comparison.
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