TikTok moved to dismiss a case that New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin (D) brought for alleged violations of the state's consumer-protection law. The AG lacks jurisdiction to bring the case, and federal law bars many of its counts, the social media platform's motion said.
Social Media
Social media platforms are facing intense scrutiny over how they collect, share and monetize user data. As new state and federal laws focus on age verification, parental controls and transparency requirements, social media companies face legal risks around algorithmic targeting, third-party tracking and children's safety. This page follows key legislation, investigations and lawsuits shaping privacy practices for major social platforms.
An Iowa social media bill requiring age verification cleared the state’s House Judiciary Committee by a 19-2 vote on Tuesday. The committee approved HF-278, which says that platforms must not permit those younger than 18 to obtain accounts without parental consent. Child online safety bills advanced in multiple other states this week, too (see 2502250017).
A Vermont Senate panel weighed changes to an age-appropriate design code bill (S-69) at a meeting Wednesday. The Institutions Committee was scheduled to meet again about the bill Thursday.
The Connecticut Senate will vote on an AI bill by Sen. James Maroney (D) this year, as it did last year, declared President Pro Tempore Martin Looney (D) at a press conference ahead of a Wednesday hearing on SB-2. While Looney said passage of the bill is urgent, Connecticut's chief innovation officer told a hearing the state risks regulating too soon and getting it wrong.
New York state's attorney general will likely play a more prominent role in privacy and cybersecurity oversight in 2025, said Morrison Foerster lawyers in a blog post Monday.
State bills on child online safety received key committee OKs in several states this week. Kids privacy has been a focus for state legislatures this year (see 2501170053).
A federal judge for the U.S. District Court for Northern Georgia on Thursday granted class-action status to a plaintiff who alleged that health and medical corporation WebMD violated the Video Privacy Protection Act (VPPA) by disclosing video-viewing information to Meta Platforms. WebMD had argued that class certification should not be granted because the proposed class is not adequately defined or ascertainable and that individual privacy settings impede the commonality requirement.
The Virginia legislature passed kids social media and student privacy bills on Thursday. The Senate voted 39-0 to agree with House substitutes on SB-854 and SB-1486. The House voted 97-0 and 98-0, respectively, for the bills earlier that day.
The U.S. District Court of Montana ordered a stay of proceedings in a case about the state’s attempt at banning TikTok Wednesday, after the parties jointly moved for the motion.
The South Carolina House passed a kids social media bill requiring age verification Thursday. Members voted 89-14 to send H-3431 to the Senate.