HB 161 requires app stores and developers to implement age verification and obtain parental consent for certain apps targeting minors. It directly affects app providers, developers, and parents of children under 18. The bill authorizes Alabama's Attorney General to enforce violations as deceptive trade practices and allows parents to file civil lawsuits for noncompliance. Key provisions include mandatory age checks before app downloads and clarifying that this law doesn't override other state age verification requirements. The bill is currently pending in the Alabama House of Representatives.
HB 347 creates a private right of action for individuals depicted in non-consensual intimate images (so-called "illicit material") that were recklessly produced or disclosed on websites, apps, or through "nudification applications" (software designed to generate non-consensual nude imagery). It requires websites and apps to establish a process for removing such material and post clear notices about this process. The bill holds tech developers or providers liable if they recklessly design, market, or operate tools that enable non-consensual image sharing, including nudification apps. The Alabama Attorney General can enforce these provisions and impose penalties for violations.
SB 129 requires developers of AI tools that create images, videos, or audiovisual content to clearly disclose when output is AI-generated. This applies to all AI systems sold or used in Alabama, including those licensed to third parties, and mandates disclosures that are visible, permanent, and unavoidable in the same format as the content. Violations would be treated as deceptive trade practices under Alabama law, allowing both the Attorney General and affected individuals to seek legal action. The bill takes effect on October 1, 2026, with a 30-day cure period before enforcement actions.
HB 174 requires video game manufacturers selling 25+ copies in Alabama to ensure games receive an age rating from the ESRB or a similar organization before sale. Manufacturers must display the rating visibly on physical packaging or at point-of-sale, and provide detailed rating explanations on a consumer-accessible website. Violations would be treated as deceptive trade practices under Alabama law, subjecting manufacturers to existing penalties. The law takes effect October 1, 2026, directly affecting game sellers operating in the state.
Tags
Consumer Protection
HB 325 requires businesses using AI chatbots in commercial interactions to clearly tell consumers at the start of and periodically during conversations that they are communicating with a computer, not a human. This applies directly to companies offering goods or services online through AI chatbots that might make consumers believe they are talking to a person. Violating this rule would be considered an unfair or deceptive trade practice, allowing consumers to sue for up to $1,000 per violation or seek injunctive relief. The Alabama Attorney General can also enforce the law by seeking civil penalties of up to $5 million for violations.
HB 327 is a consumer protection bill prohibiting businesses from using a person's voice or image in a digital replica for commercial purposes without their written consent. It creates a private right for individuals to sue if their likeness is used without authorization, while allowing exceptions for news, commentary, satire, and short, non-commercial uses. The law also establishes that rights to control digital replicas last 10 years after a person's death (with possible 5-year renewals) but cannot exceed 50 years total. This directly affects individuals whose likenesses might be replicated and businesses creating or using such digital representations.
