Technology (Online Safety)

This bill prohibits elected officials from publicly sharing a constituent's personal information online with the intent to harass, threaten, or incite violence. It defines "personal information" broadly to include addresses, phone numbers, social media profiles, photos, and online identifiers. Violators face misdemeanor penalties of up to $500 or one year in jail, and constituents can request removal of their information by providing evidence of an immediate safety threat. The law applies to state and local elected officials and takes effect January 1, 2027.

HB 1658 requires app stores operating in New Hampshire to verify users' age categories (e.g., child, teenager) and obtain parental consent for minors under 18. It mandates that app stores create "minor accounts" (for users under 18) linked to "parent accounts" (for adults), and disclose key information like an app's age rating, content description, data collection practices, and data protection methods to parents before consent. The bill also requires re-obtaining parental consent for significant app changes, such as new in-app purchases or altered data collection. This law directly affects app store providers (e.g., Apple App Store, Google Play), app developers, and parents of minors in New Hampshire.