On 5 June 2026, the Council of Europe’s Steering Committee for Human Rights in Biomedicine and Health (CDBIO) gathered experts, youth representatives, and policymakers to discuss the ethical and human rights implications of conversational and generative AI for young people’s health and well-being.
A recent survey presented by CNIL (national data protection authority for France) and Groupe VYV (a French nonprofit health insurance and healthcare group) revealed that over 90% of young people in several European countries use conversational AI1, increasingly for seeking advice on personal and health issues.
Speakers at the session drew a critical distinction between general-purpose chatbots being used informally for health and mental health support, AI companions, and specialised health and well-being applications - each raising different concerns. Conversational and companionship apps largely operate outside any dedicated regulatory framework, with chatbots potentially falling under multiple regulatory regimes, with no single framework providing adequate coverage.
Invited representatives of certain specialised health apps explained that their offers, while offering genuine opportunities to support young people, are entering the market without pre-market assessment, accountability mechanisms, or clear liability frameworks. Speakers called for inter alia clearer labelling of conversational agents, an ethical framework specific to chatbots used by or likely to be used by young people, and regulatory action that keeps pace with deployment.
In summary, the CDBIO reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring that the protection, well-being, and human rights of young people remain at the heart of digital innovation, through ongoing consultation with youth and all stakeholders.
Artificial intelligence dedicated webpage
1 The survey "Conversational AI and young people’s mental health," published in May 2026, was conducted in four European countries (Germany, Sweden, Ireland, with a particular focus on France). Results (in French): Conversational AI and young people’s mental health
