A powerful Senate committee backed legislation to require OpenAI, Meta Platforms Inc. and other artificial intelligence companies to stop minors from using chatbots, responding to a strengthening public backlash against harm to children and teenagers attributed to the fast-spreading technology.

Republicans and Democrats on the ideologically polarized Senate Judiciary Committee crossed party lines to endorse the measure unanimously on Thursday. It would require AI companies to maintain strict age verification systems, bar AI companions for minors and ban chatbots from pushing sexually explicit content or messages encouraging self-harm to minors.