Technology (Social Media)

HB 2648, the Social Media and Telecommunications Fraud Accountability Act, requires social media platforms that accept payment for advertising to implement specific measures to prevent fraudulent ads, including verifying advertiser identities, detecting impersonation, and providing user reporting tools. It also prohibits falsely identifying caller names/numbers on telephone systems and bans using bank names without consent in electronic ads or solicitations. Social media platforms must publish quarterly reports on fraud incidents and remove reported fraudulent ads within 72 hours. Violations are deemed unconscionable under Kansas consumer law, subjecting violators to civil penalties of at least $10,000 per offense and allowing enforcement by the attorney general or private lawsuits.

HB 2657 requires social media platforms to block children under 16 from creating, maintaining, or accessing accounts without verified parental permission. Platforms must implement reliable age-verification systems that minimize data collection and suspend accounts of minors until consent is confirmed. Parents or guardians can revoke consent anytime or request account deletion. The Kansas Attorney General enforces this under the state’s consumer protection law, treating violations as deceptive acts without requiring proof of a transaction. The bill directly affects minors under 16, social media companies, and parents/guardians managing children’s online access.