Age-verification tools are not a silver bullet that will protect children and young people on internet sites and social media platforms, speakers said Monday at a session of the European Dialogue on Internet Governance.
The Texas House provided overwhelming support for a bill requiring app stores to verify users' ages and seek parental consent. Members supported SB-2420 in a 132-10 vote Thursday and then passed the bill on a final reading Friday.
Incorporating children's and teen safety into privacy has led to a variety of approaches under state law, said two Latham Watkins attorneys on a panel at the Privacy + Security Forum spring academy Friday. An age-gate is the best way for companies to ensure compliance with all of them, they added.
An Arizona anti-porn measure requiring age verification passed the legislature Wednesday, which then sent it to Gov. Katie Hobbs (D). The House voted 35-23 to concur and re-pass HB-2112 after the Sentate passed the bill the day before (see 2505070013).
While the Biden administration’s FTC focused on platform accountability for child safety, the Trump FTC appears far more concerned with strengthening parental control to protect kids' privacy and shield them from online harm, former FTC officials said Thursday at the Privacy + Security Forum Spring Academy.
Multiple state legislature chambers this week passed bills aimed at protecting kids online.
Using consent to preserve privacy has pros and cons, said panelists at the Privacy + Security Forum Spring Academy Wednesday. However, ensuring that consent is gained effectively and truthfully is one of the best ways to safeguard information, they added.
Florida and 18 other state enforcers, plus the Arizona state legislature, supported Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) in asking a federal appeals court to remove a preliminary injunction on his state's age-verification law.
New York state Senate committees approved a variety of bills on biometrics at hearings this week. An age-verification measure failed to advance, however.
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.