Conduits will attack all players that are nearby when touching water, not just mobs. I can't reproduce this in 1.18.2.

Steps to reproduce

1. Build a conduit underwater with the maximum range so it can attack mobs
2. Go into survival mode
3. Be close to the conduit

What I expected to happen was: The conduit just gives me conduit power and doesn't attack me.
What actually happend was: The conduit gave me conduit power and attacked me until I died. It says I was killed by magic.