The App Store Accountability Act requires major app stores (with over 5 million US users) to verify users' ages at account creation and obtain verifiable parental consent before minors can download apps or make in-app purchases. App stores must clearly display age ratings for apps, provide age verification data to developers, and notify parents of significant app changes affecting minors. App developers must verify user age and parental consent through the app store's system, use age data only for age-appropriate restrictions, and cannot enforce terms against minors without verified parental consent. The Federal Trade Commission and state attorneys general will enforce these requirements, with app developers potentially shielded from liability if they follow the rules and industry standards.
HR 6484, the Kids Online Safety Act, requires social media platforms and online services (termed "covered platforms") to implement specific safety measures for minors under 17. The bill mandates default privacy settings that limit communication with other users, default time limits on platform usage, and parental control tools to monitor and restrict children's online activity. Platforms must prevent advertising of harmful products like drugs, alcohol, and gambling to minors and provide clear safety information before minors register or make purchases. The legislation also requires annual independent audits of platforms' compliance with these safety measures and establishes a Kids Online Safety Council to provide recommendations on online safety for minors.
The GUARD Act requires companies providing AI chatbots to verify users' ages using reliable methods (like government IDs, not just self-reported birth dates) and prohibits minors under 18 from accessing "AI companions" designed for emotional interaction. It mandates clear disclosures that chatbots are not human and cannot falsely claim to be licensed professionals (e.g., therapists), while banning features that solicit minors for explicit content or promote violence. Covered entities must implement secure age verification processes for all accounts, including periodic checks, and face civil penalties up to $100,000 per violation for noncompliance. The law directly affects tech companies operating AI chatbots in the U.S. and aims to reduce minors' exposure to harmful AI interactions.
HR 6334, the Deepfake Liability Act, requires online platforms to implement specific processes to address non-consensual intimate content and cyberstalking. It amends Section 230 of the Communications Act to create a "duty of care" for platforms, mandating they prevent and remove intimate privacy violations (like non-consensual deepfakes or intimate images) within 48 hours of a valid request. The law directly affects victims of non-consensual intimate content and platforms classified as "covered platforms" (social media, apps, and websites), while excluding email, messaging services, and data storage. Key provisions include minimum data logging for legal proceedings, clear removal processes, and a 48-hour removal timeline for verified violations.
S 278, the Kids Off Social Media Act, prohibits social media platforms from allowing children under 13 to create or maintain accounts and requires platforms to delete accounts of children under 13. It also bans the use of personalized recommendation systems for children under 13 and teens aged 13-16, with limited exceptions for basic device information. The bill requires schools receiving certain broadband subsidies to certify they prevent student access to social media on school devices through technology protection measures. Platforms would face enforcement by the Federal Trade Commission for violations, and the bill excludes certain educational platforms from the definition of "social media platform" to allow for educational use. The bill would take effect one year after enactment.
This bill amends federal law to clarify that electronic communications and remote computing service providers (like internet companies) are exempt from certain record-keeping requirements when handling information related to child exploitation. It specifically removes the need for providers to maintain certain records about child exploitation cases and prohibits them from being paid for providing information, facilities, or technical assistance related to such cases. The exemption applies only to information defined as "child exploitation" under the 2008 PROTECT Our Children Act. The bill directly affects tech companies and service providers by streamlining their ability to share child exploitation data without financial compensation or record-keeping burdens.
HR 6746, the "Sunset To Reform Section 230 Act," would amend Section 230 of the Communications Act to end its legal protections for online platforms after December 31, 2026. This bill directly affects websites, social media companies, and other online platforms that currently benefit from Section 230 immunity, which shields them from most lawsuits over user-generated content. The key provision is a fixed expiration date - Section 230 would no longer apply to these platforms after 2026, meaning they could face greater legal liability for user content starting in 2027. The bill does not change Section 230's current rules but sets a specific end date for its operation.
The SCREEN Act requires online platforms that create, host, or make available pornographic content for profit to implement age verification technology that prevents minors from accessing such content. Covered platforms must use technology to verify users' age and block access to content defined as "harmful to minors" - material that appeals to prurient interest, depicts sexual acts in a patently offensive way, and lacks serious value for minors. The Federal Trade Commission will enforce the law, requiring platforms to conduct regular audits, maintain reasonable data security for age verification information, and make their verification processes public. Platforms must comply with these requirements within one year of the bill's enactment, with the goal of protecting minors from exposure to online pornography.
This bill establishes a 5-year pilot program to address technological abuse against victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. It authorizes the Director of the Office on Violence Against Women to award up to 15 grants (max $2 million each) to "eligible consortia" - partnerships between tech-focused institutions (like universities or private tech groups) and domestic violence/sexual assault centers - to provide tech devices for victims and develop safety tools. A separate $20 million grant program funds nonprofits and schools to create training curricula for organizations supporting victims. The bill directly affects victims experiencing digital stalking or harassment and the service providers who assist them, with both programs requiring congressional review after completion.
This bill requires the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to launch a nationwide online safety education program within 180 days of enactment, targeting minors under 17. It mandates collaboration with schools, parents, online platforms, and nonprofits to promote best practices for safe internet use, including protection from harmful content (like adult material or cybercrimes) and mental health risks. The FTC must submit annual reports to Congress for 10 years detailing these efforts. The law directly affects minors, parents/guardians, schools, and online platforms through these educational initiatives, without restricting content or imposing new regulations.
