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.
The PROTECT Act of 2026 requires online platforms that host user-generated content to verify the identity and age of anyone uploading pornographic images, ensuring all individuals depicted are at least 18 years old. To comply, platforms must obtain explicit written consent from every person shown in an image for both the specific sexual acts performed and the distribution of that image, using standardized forms approved by the Attorney General. The law imposes civil penalties and criminal prison sentences for users and platforms that fail to meet these verification and consent requirements.
The CHAT Act 2.0 requires companies operating AI chatbots to register users with age verification and implement specific safety measures to protect minors from harm. The law categorizes these chatbots into three tiers based on their purpose, imposing stricter rules on those designed for companionship or mental health support, such as mandatory break reminders, limits on memory retention, and protocols to detect and report suicidal thoughts. Covered entities must clearly disclose that the chatbot is not human, prohibit the sale of minor users' data, and ensure that any AI providing therapeutic services is supervised by a licensed professional. Enforcement of these requirements falls under the Federal Trade Commission, which also has the authority to work with state attorneys general to address violations.
This bill requires social media companies to obtain verifiable parental consent before allowing anyone under 16 to create or maintain an account. If consent is provided, the platform must set up the account as a parent-supervised profile, giving parents tools to manage privacy settings, limit screen time, control communications, and monitor activity. The Federal Trade Commission will establish rules for verifying age and consent, while state attorneys general are authorized to enforce the law through civil actions. The legislation defines "child" as anyone under 16 and excludes services like email, text messaging, and educational platforms from its requirements.
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 Addictive Design Act of 2026 aims to protect youth under 18 from potential mental health risks associated with artificial intelligence chatbots by banning specific features designed to create emotional attachments. To support this goal, the bill establishes a government task force to study these impacts and provides funding for research and educational outreach to parents and teachers. The legislation also mandates that companies offering AI chatbots to minors must use age verification technology and delete user data within 24 hours. Companies that fail to comply with the ban on addictive design features or data privacy requirements face civil penalties of up to $10 million or $5,000 per violation, respectively.
This bill requires wagering and prediction market platforms to use facial recognition technology to verify that all users are over 18 years old before allowing them to place bets or orders. To protect user privacy, the law mandates that these platforms collect only the data strictly necessary for age verification and must delete any such data once it is no longer needed. The Federal Trade Commission is given the authority to enforce these age verification rules and can issue penalties for violations. Additionally, the legislation establishes a new Office of the Retail Advocate and an Advisory Council within the Commodity Futures Trading Commission to better protect individual investors and oversee the regulation of event contracts.
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.
This bill, known as the Closing the Digital Divide for Students Act of 2026, allows public housing utility allowances to cover high-speed internet service, equipment, and installation fees for families with children who qualify for free or reduced-price school lunches. The legislation sets the covered internet cost at the lowest monthly rate available in the area while explicitly permitting families to choose more expensive plans or bundled services if they prefer. Additionally, the bill requires internet service providers to offer a specific filtering technology that blocks visual content harmful to minors, ensuring a level of protection comparable to existing certified standards. These changes directly affect households living in public housing by expanding the types of living expenses that can be subsidized through their utility benefits.
The SAFE for Kids Act of 2026 requires internet platforms that host more than one-third sexual material harmful to minors to verify the age of users before they can access that content. Covered entities must implement systems using government-issued IDs, transactional data, or other reliable methods to confirm users are not under 18, while strictly prohibiting the retention or sale of the personal information collected during this process. The Federal Trade Commission is tasked with enforcing these rules through civil penalties and rulemaking, while the Department of Justice can pursue criminal charges against violators, including fines and imprisonment. Additionally, the law allows parents to sue platforms directly in civil court if their children gain access to prohibited material, and it mandates regular reports to Congress on enforcement activities.
