Technology (Online Safety)

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.

HB 2671, the Kansas Community Harmed by AI Technology Act, requires AI chatbots in Kansas that simulate emotional or therapeutic interactions (called "companion AI chatbots") to verify user age using commercial methods. It mandates parental consent for minors under 18, blocks minors from accessing content involving suicidal ideation or explicit material, and requires clear pop-up notifications informing users they are interacting with AI. Covered entities must protect age data confidentiality, monitor for suicidal ideation in minor interactions, and provide crisis resources. Compliance guidance from the attorney general is due by December 2026, with enforcement under Kansas consumer protection laws. The bill directly affects AI chatbot companies operating in Kansas and minors using these services.

SB 372, the App Store Accountability Act, requires app stores operating in Kansas to verify the age of users and obtain parental consent for minors (under 18) before they can download apps, purchase apps, or make in-app purchases. It directly affects app stores (like Apple App Store or Google Play), developers, parents, and minors in Kansas. Key provisions include mandatory age verification at account creation, requiring parental consent for minors' app activities, and notifying parents of "significant changes" to apps (like new ads or in-app purchases). The law enforces these rules through Kansas consumer protection laws and allows affected individuals to file private lawsuits for violations.

HB 2319 allows Kansas' Division of Vehicles to create or contract with entities to provide optional digital versions of driver's licenses and ID cards through a secure electronic system. It requires strict privacy protections, prohibiting contractors from selling or sharing personal data without explicit consent, and mandates that digital IDs display only essential information for specific transactions ("limited profile"). The bill also sets security standards (like encryption) for transmitting digital IDs and requires users to already hold a physical license or ID card before accessing the digital version. This affects Kansas residents who choose to use the digital ID option for transactions like age verification.