Hey Siri, Am I Depressed? Utah's Approach to Mental Health Chatbot Regulation

SSRN Electronic Journal 2026 Preprint Open access

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Authors: Tarmio Frei, Arno Minuth, Philipp Heußel, Greta Sparzynski, Gabriel Sparzynski
DOI: 10.2139/ssrn.6154247
Cited by: 0

Abstract

Utah's HB 452 establishes one of the world's first regulatory frameworks targeted at AI-powered mental health chatbots. This paper analyzes how the law shapes chatbot design, deployment, and governance, emphasizing transparency, safety, human oversight, and user protection. It further evaluates the statute's potential as a global blueprint for responsible and ethical AI-driven therapy in digital mental healthcare.

Fields of Study & Subjects

Digital Mental Health Interventions Digitalization Law and Regulation Ethics and Social Impacts of AI

Publication details

Journal / source
SSRN Electronic Journal
Publication date
1 January 2026
Document type
Preprint