The GUARDIAN Act requires social media platforms to obtain verifiable parental consent before collecting or processing the personal data of users under the age of 16. It defines "covered platforms" as internet services that use design features like infinite scrolling, push notifications, and personalized recommendation algorithms to promote user engagement. The bill mandates that these platforms delete a minor's data when they turn 16 unless a parent explicitly requests retention, and it grants parents the right to withdraw consent at any time, which forces the platform to terminate the account within ten days. Enforcement is handled by the Federal Trade Commission, with state attorneys general also permitted to bring civil actions for violations, while the law preempts conflicting state regulations but allows states to enact stricter protections for minors.
This bill requires political committees to clearly label online content they pay for, ensuring viewers know the post was funded by a political group. The law applies to advertisements and messages posted on websites, apps, or social media by third parties, but excludes content on a committee's own site or posts by regular employees using their own accounts. Starting in 2027, these labels must be easy to read in videos and text or clearly spoken in audio, and committees must inform the creators of this requirement when making payments. The Federal Election Commission will create specific rules to enforce these standards by that date.
The Digital Age Assurance Act of 2026 establishes a system where operating system providers must collect a user's date of birth and share only their age range with apps and websites using secure, privacy-preserving methods. This bill directly affects technology companies, internet service providers, and users by mandating that platforms verify a user's age bracket before allowing access to age-restricted content. Key provisions prohibit the sale of children's data, ban targeted advertising toward minors, and prevent companies from using age information for profiling or marketing purposes. Additionally, the law includes anti-competitive rules to ensure that third-party apps face the same age-related restrictions as those owned by the platform itself. Enforcement is handled by the Federal Trade Commission and state attorneys general, who can impose fines for violations.
The Web of Biological Data Act of 2026 directs the Department of Energy to create a centralized online platform called the Web of Biological Data to help researchers access and analyze biological information using advanced tools like artificial intelligence. This system will serve as a single entry point for various biological datasets, particularly those funded by the federal government, while implementing tiered security measures to protect sensitive data and restrict access to certain foreign nations. The bill establishes a phased rollout plan that includes an initial testing phase within two years and a full expansion within five years, supported by an advisory board comprising representatives from industry, academia, and other federal agencies. Funding is authorized to support the development, maintenance, and expansion of the platform, with requirements for regular reports on progress and cybersecurity assessments.
The SAFE KIDS Act requires companies providing AI chatbots to verify user ages, conduct regular safety risk assessments, and implement specific safeguards to protect children from harms such as self-harm, sexual exploitation, and manipulative design. Providers must offer robust parental controls that allow parents to limit usage, restrict data collection, and receive notifications if their child encounters dangerous content or expresses suicidal ideation. The legislation also prohibits targeting children with advertisements or selling their personal information without explicit parental consent, while mandating annual independent audits to ensure compliance. Enforcement of these rules will be handled by the Federal Trade Commission, which has the authority to impose civil penalties for violations.
The Web of Biological Data Act of 2026 directs the Department of Energy to create a centralized online platform called the Web of Biological Data to help researchers access and analyze biological information using advanced tools like artificial intelligence. This system will serve as a single entry point for federally funded data, featuring strict cybersecurity measures and tiered access controls to protect sensitive information. The bill establishes a phased rollout, beginning with a pilot version within two years that focuses on specific data types and user-friendly design, followed by a full expansion five years later that includes broader data compatibility and bioinformatic tools. To ensure the project's success, the legislation creates an advisory board with members from industry, academia, and government, and mandates regular reports to Congress on progress and security assessments. Funding is authorized to support the initial development, testing, and long-term maintenance of the platform while preserving existing privacy and ethical protections for biological data.
The JAWBONE Act prohibits federal agencies and employees from coercing private platforms like social media sites, broadcasters, or artificial intelligence providers into removing or altering content. To enforce this rule, the bill creates a new legal cause of action that allows these platforms to sue for damages if they are pressured into taking content actions, with specific exceptions for lawful investigations and court-ordered warrants. The legislation also mandates the creation of a public portal where agencies must log and disclose communications sent to these platforms regarding content moderation, including metadata and requests for action. Additionally, the bill requires the National Institute of Standards and Technology to develop guidelines for logging these communications and establishes a formal complaint process for platforms to report potential violations.
This bill directs the National Institute of Standards and Technology to create task forces that develop technical standards for labeling content created by artificial intelligence. These groups will work with technology companies, social media platforms, and privacy experts to establish methods for watermarking images and videos, as well as tagging text, to help users distinguish AI-generated material from human-made content. The legislation requires these task forces to include representatives from various sectors, including developers, media organizations, and labor groups, and mandates regular reporting to Congress on their progress. Additionally, the bill emphasizes the need to protect user privacy when implementing these new tracking and labeling systems.
The GAME Act of 2026 prohibits large digital advertising platforms from showing targeted ads for sports gambling to anyone under 18 years old. This ban takes effect one year after the law is passed and applies to major social media sites, search engines, and ad networks that have over 100 million monthly users. The Federal Trade Commission is responsible for enforcing the rule, with repeated violations potentially leading to criminal fines of up to $100,000 per ad instance. The legislation defines specific types of data used for targeting, such as precise location tracking and unique device identifiers, while excluding simple context-based ads or those requested directly by users.
The Parents Over Platforms Act requires app stores and developers to verify user ages and restrict access to adult-only content for minors. App stores must ask users to declare their age and allow parents to block specific applications, while developers are prohibited from showing personalized ads to minors and must prevent them from accessing age-gated features. The law grants the Federal Trade Commission authority to enforce these rules and includes a preemption clause that stops states from passing their own conflicting regulations. Developers are solely responsible for identifying which of their apps require age restrictions, and the bill includes protections for companies acting in good faith when technical limitations prevent perfect age verification. These measures will take effect two years after the legislation is enacted.
