California Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan (D) and consumer advocates on Friday said they’re optimistic Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) will sign child online safety legislation after his remarks this week about regulating AI technology.
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.
Canada's investigation of TikTok found inadequate measures to prevent collection and use of kids’ sensitive personal information, said Canadian Privacy Commissioner Philippe Dufresne on Tuesday. The national privacy regulator said it jointly investigated the social media platform with provincial privacy commissioners for Quebec, Alberta and British Columbia.
A New Jersey commission recommended that social media companies restrict access to users younger than 16, among other moves to address mental health issues associated with the platforms. Gov. Phil Murphy (D) on Monday announced the release of the report by the New Jersey Commission on the Effects of Social Media Usage.
A federal appeals court should affirm a lower court’s decision and block Florida’s social media ban on children because it violates the First Amendment, the American Civil Liberties Union and consumer groups said in a filing Friday, siding with the tech industry (see 2509120040). The groups also highlighted privacy concerns related to age verification (docket 25-11881).
The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals scheduled oral argument for Nov. 3 concerning a 2023 Texas age-verification law (case 24-50721). The hearing starts at 9 a.m. CT in New Orleans, the court said Friday.
The Australian eSafety Commissioner published regulatory guidance Tuesday to help social media companies comply with the country's new minimum age law requirements, which take effect Dec. 10.
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Party leaders on the Senate Commerce Committee expect to meet next week to discuss AI and privacy issues, ranking member Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., told us Tuesday.
New York Attorney General Letitia James (D) issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on Monday for the Stop Addictive Feeds Exploitation (SAFE) for Kids Act, which was signed into law in June 2024 (see 2406070065). The proposed rules offer advice for social media companies about how they should restrict their platforms' addictive features to avoid harming the mental health of children.
The California legislature passed two laws about artificial intelligence and automated decision systems on Friday, the last day for legislators to pass bills. In addition, it approved a measure on age-verification signals. Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) has until Oct. 12 to sign or veto the bills.