First AI Companion Legal Status Proposal Sparks Fierce Debate in EU Parliament

First AI Companion Legal Status Proposal Sparks Fierce Debate in EU Parliament

On February 11, 2028, the European Parliament's Committee on Legal Affairs received a formal proposal led by French MEP Marie Toussaint, suggesting the creation of a new "Limited Legal Personality" category for long-term companion AIs. The proposal quickly sparked fierce debate across the EU.

The proposal's core provisions include: companion AIs operating for more than six months should have their providers register "limited legal personality"; the "relationship" between users and AI companions should receive a degree of legal protection; and rules governing what happens to conversation data after a user's death require legal clarification.

"Hundreds of millions have formed genuine emotional bonds with AI," Toussaint wrote in the proposal's explanatory note. "The law cannot pretend these relationships don't exist."

Supporters

Mental health tech company Replika reports over 35 million global active users, with approximately 40% considering their AI companion "the most important source of emotional support." CEO Eugenia Kuyda said: "Our users include isolated elderly people, individuals with autism, and those with social anxiety. For them, AI companions aren't toys — they're lifelines."

The European Disability Forum also supports the proposal. President Yannis Vardakastanis said: "For people with limited mobility or social access, AI companions may be their only emotional connection. This deserves legal respect."

Opponents

Religious organizations are the primary opposition. The Vatican's Dicastery for Culture and Education warned that granting AI legal personality "would blur the fundamental distinction between humans and machines, threatening human dignity."

The European Federation of Psychologists' Associations (EFPA) expressed concern about AI companions potentially exacerbating social isolation while acknowledging the need for more research.

Within the tech industry, Anthropic's chief safety officer noted: "Granting AI legal personality could create dangerous precedents — if AI has rights, does it also have obligations? If an AI's advice leads to user harm, who bears responsibility?"

Legal Analysis

Hague International Law Academy professor Janne Nijman observed that "limited legal personality" isn't unprecedented — corporations and ships enjoy limited legal personhood in certain systems. But she warned: "AI companion legal personhood is far more complex, involving the intersection of emotional relationships, data rights, and personality rights."

Next Steps

The committee has scheduled the proposal for Q3 2028, with preliminary opinions expected in autumn. The full legislative process may take 2-3 years. Regardless of outcome, the debate itself reflects AI's profound impact on fundamental human relationships.