This bill bans online platforms from conducting market research on children under 13 and requires parental permission for such research on teens aged 13-17. It applies to social media and apps that let users create profiles, share content, and use features like auto-play or notifications to keep users engaged. Platforms must stop collecting data about minors' behavior without consent, with enforcement led by the Federal Trade Commission. States can also sue platforms that violate these rules.
The Kids Internet Safety Partnership Act establishes a new program within the Commerce Department to improve online safety for children under 18. The program will work with parents, educators, online platforms, and experts to identify risks and benefits of digital services for minors, then develop practical safety guidelines. Within two years, it will publish a detailed guide for platforms on implementing features like age verification, parental controls, and design changes that reduce addictive elements (e.g., endless scrolling). The program will also release regular reports tracking how well platforms adopt these safety measures. The initiative will end after five years.
Content Origin Protection and Integrity from Edited and Deepfaked Media Act of 2025 This bill requires certain tools used to create or modify digital content, including artificial intelligence (AI), to allow users to embed in such content information documenting its origin and history. This is known as content provenance information . The bill also prohibits the removal or alteration of content provenance information in certain circumstances. Specifically, tools used for the primary purpose of creating or significantly modifying content via algorithms, or creating or substantially modifying digital representations of copyrighted work, must allow users to include content provenance information in the resulting digital content. Further, the bill prohibits certain large websites and applications (e.g., social media applications) from removing, altering, tampering with, or disabling content provenance information; and it prohibits any individual or entity from taking such actions in furtherance of an unfair or deceptive act in commerce. Finally, the bill prohibits certain commercial uses of digital representations of copyrighted work that has associated content provenance information without the consent of the work’s owner. Specifically, such representations may not be used to (1) train a system that uses AI or an algorithm, or (2) create algorithmically generated or modified content. The bill provides for enforcement by the Federal Trade Commission and state attorneys general (or other authorized state officials). Owners of digital representations of copyrighted content with associated content provenance information may also bring suit to enforce violations related to their content.
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.
The AI LEAD Act establishes a federal liability framework for artificial intelligence systems that cause harm to individuals or businesses. It sets standards for when developers (who create AI systems) and deployers (who use AI systems) can be held liable for harm, including defective design or failure to provide adequate warnings. The bill prohibits including certain liability limitations in contracts related to AI systems and creates a federal cause of action for individuals harmed by AI. It also requires foreign AI developers to designate a U.S. agent for legal service, with the law applying to claims filed after enactment regardless of when the harm occurred.
The REAL Act (HR 6571) requires federal agencies and officials to clearly label public content created or altered using generative artificial intelligence with a plain-language disclaimer. The label must state that AI was used, explain briefly how the content was generated, and describe the technology, while being visible and easy to understand. Exceptions include minor visual edits (like brightness adjustments), routine drafts reviewed by staff before publication, personal social media posts unrelated to work, and classified content. Agencies must follow OMB guidelines within 180 days and submit annual compliance reports to Congress.
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.
S 1885, the Stop the Scroll Act, requires major social media platforms and anonymous content-sharing apps (defined as "covered platforms") to display clear mental health warning labels each time a U.S. user accesses the service. The labels must warn users about potential mental health risks linked to social media use and provide access to resources like the 988 Suicide Lifeline. Platforms must display the label prominently upon entry, redisplay it hourly after user acknowledgment, and cannot hide it in terms of service or allow disabling. This law directly affects all covered platform providers operating in the U.S., mandating specific disclosure practices to inform users about health risks before engagement.
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.
