Collaboration is needed among tech industry experts, parents, legislators and others in the conversation about protecting children online, said Alabama lawmakers at a House State Government Committee hearing Tuesday. The panel agreed to work on an app store age-verification bill (SB-187) over the summer and bring back an updated bill next session.
Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) signed a kids social media bill after the legislature agreed to the governor’s recommended changes. The legislation amends the Virginia Consumer Data Protection Act.
Louisiana legislators on Monday cleared privacy legislation requiring app stores to verify ages. Also at the House Commerce Committee hearing, the sponsor of a bill on protecting genomic data voluntarily deferred her own measure.
Tennessee's attorney general told a federal district court Thursday that a case about an Ohio law requiring age verification is wrong and dissimilar from one before it concerning a Tennessee age-verification law. AG Jonathan Skrmetti (R) urged the court to ignore the decision in NetChoice v. Yost and deny a preliminary injunction against his state's law.
NetChoice sued Georgia on Thursday over a 2024 law aimed at protecting kids on social media, alleging it violates the First Amendment and poses digital safety and security risks.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) asked the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Monday to remove a preliminary injunction on a Texas law requiring age verification before accessing many platforms, websites and digital services. Granting Paxton's request would reverse the previous ruling of the U.S. District Court for Western Texas. That court erred when it determined the law triggered strict scrutiny and labeled it “vague,” Paxton argued.
Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin (R) asked the U.S. District Court for Western Arkansas Monday to alter or amend its ruling that permanently enjoined a state social media safety act, claiming the court lacks authority to abolish a law, only block enforcement of it.
California Assembly members advanced privacy bills on geolocation data and AI transparency, while acknowledging there's still work ahead to address opponents' concerns during a livestreamed Assembly Judiciary Committee hearing Tuesday. The committee advanced the bills to the Appropriations Committee.
Louisiana lawmakers lambasted videogame industry opposition Monday to a bill creating a duty of care for online platforms with minor users. At a livestreamed hearing, the state’s House Civil Law Committee voted unanimously by voice to clear HB-37 with amendments. At a separate hearing, the House Commerce Committee decided to wait for a week to vote on an app store age-verification bill (HB-570) to allow for more negotiation with tech companies.
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier (R) sued social media platform Snap for violating a kids social media law and the Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act (FDUTPA), his office announced Tuesday. Enacted last year, HB-3 prohibits kids 13 and younger from creating social media accounts and requires parental consent for 14- and 15-year-olds to create accounts, among other things.