Technology (Social Media)

HB 5312 establishes a private right for victims and a civil action for Connecticut's Attorney General to address unlawful sharing of synthetically created intimate images (like deepfakes). Victims can sue in Superior Court for damages, emotional distress, and attorney fees, while the Attorney General can pursue civil penalties up to $50,000 per day against online platforms that fail to remove such content after knowing it violates the law. The law specifically protects minors under 18, even if the image is synthetic, and applies to platforms like social media or apps that host user-generated content. It takes effect October 1, 2026, and complements existing legal remedies without limiting other rights.

SB 344 requires written parental or guardian consent before using a child's photo, video, or likeness for marketing or advertising on social media. It directly affects parents/guardians (who must provide consent), social media users (who must obtain consent), and schools (which cannot deny school activities if consent is not given). The bill prohibits using a child's image for promotion without written permission and bans denying school participation due to lack of consent. It takes effect for general social media use on October 1, 2026, and for schools on July 1, 2026.

HB 5037 requires social media platforms to verify the age of users under 18 or obtain parental consent before showing them personalized content recommendations (like feeds or suggested posts). It applies to platforms that prioritize media based on user data, excluding shopping sites and purely educational tools. Platforms must delete age verification data after use and cannot charge more or degrade service for compliance. Exceptions include private messages, search results, or content from accounts users follow. The law takes effect January 1, 2028.