Technology (Social Media)

SB 338 would create a Digital Safety for Children Office within Ohio's Attorney General's office. The office would directly monitor three specific areas affecting children online: potential safety risks, cyberbullying incidents, and how online platforms collect children's personal data. Its key mechanism is systematic monitoring of these issues to inform state actions. The bill establishes this office under the Attorney General's authority to address child safety concerns in digital spaces. (Introduced December 23, 2025)

To amend sections 2741.01, 2741.02, 2741.05, 2741.06, 2741.09, and 2905.11 and to enact sections 2742.01, 2742.02, 2742.03, and 2742.04 of the Revised Code to make changes to the law relating to the unauthorized use of an individual's persona and to prohibit certain unauthorized deepfake recordings.

To enact sections 1349.07, 1349.071, 1349.072, 1349.073, 1349.074, 1349.075, and 1349.076 of the Revised Code to establish age verification and parental consent requirements for certain developers and application stores.

SB 167 requires application stores (like those for smartphones) to include built-in parental controls that let parents restrict their children's access to certain apps. The bill applies to stores operating in the state that meet specific usage thresholds. These controls must be integrated directly into the store's platform, not as separate third-party tools. The law directly affects application store operators and provides parents with a standardized tool for managing children's digital content.