Technology (Social Media)

in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 25, 2026

HB 1638: Consumer Protection - Covered Platforms - Protection of Minors (Kids Online Protection and Antigrooming Act)

This bill requires online platforms, video games, messaging apps, and streaming services to implement privacy-focused default settings and allow parents to manage their minor children's accounts. It defines "covered platforms" as internet-based services that facilitate user interaction, while excluding common carriers, email providers, and professional networking sites. The law specifically targets minors under 17 and gives the Attorney General authority to enforce compliance, though platforms can correct violations before facing penalties.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill protects minors' privacy and data security on platforms, enhancing consumer protection and digital rights for vulnerable users.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Consumer Data Protection Online Safety Social Media Tags Consumer Protection

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passed · Maryland · Senate Mar 26, 2026

SB 632: State Government - State Elected Officials - Protection of Personal Information

SB 632 creates a new Office of State Elected Officials Information Privacy within Maryland’s Department of Legislative Services. It allows state elected officials (the "protected individuals") to request that their personal details - such as addresses, phone numbers, and email - be removed from public online sources like government websites, social media, or social networks. The bill also establishes criminal penalties for intentionally posting an official’s personal information online under certain circumstances. This replaces the existing Address Confidentiality Program for domestic violence survivors with a dedicated system specifically for protecting state elected officials’ privacy.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyCreates Office to protect officials' personal data from public exposure, establishes penalties for unauthorized disclosure - directly strengthens data privacy protections.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Data Privacy Social Media

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in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 5, 2026

HB 924: Child Exploitation Material - Civil and Criminal Actions (Safe Kids Act)

HB 924, the "Safe Kids Act," creates a new civil legal remedy allowing parents or legal guardians of minors depicted in or exposed to child exploitation material to sue online platforms directly. It prohibits platforms from knowingly distributing such material - including AI-generated images defined as "computer-generated" under the law - and requires them to remove it. The bill updates definitions to explicitly include AI-created images in child pornography laws and increases the age threshold for victims in certain criminal cases. This allows civil lawsuits for damages (including attorney fees) without needing prior criminal convictions, targeting platforms that facilitate distribution rather than just criminalizing possession.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyRegulates online platforms for child safety, requiring removal of harmful content including AI-generated material, aligning with consumer protection in digital rights.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Artificial Intelligence Online Safety Social Media

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passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 23, 2026

HB 952: Consumer Protection - Companion Chatbots - Regulation

HB 952 requires operators of "companion chatbots" (AI systems designed to meet social needs through human-like interactions) to establish safety protocols, including preventing harmful content like self-harm discussions and sexually explicit material for minors. Operators must publish these protocols online, display clear warnings that chatbots are AI (not human), and provide crisis resource referrals for users expressing suicidal thoughts. The bill also mandates that operators of chatbots used by minors display mandatory break reminders after 3 hours of continuous use. It excludes business customer service bots, video game features, and basic voice assistants from these requirements.

Topics ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates crisis referrals for suicidal users, directly supporting mental health access within healthcare services85% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyMandates safety protocols, AI transparency, and crisis resources for companion chatbots, aligning with consumer protection regulations in tech policy.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Artificial Intelligence Consumer Data Protection Social Media

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passed · Maryland · Senate Mar 24, 2026

SB 932: Consumer Protection - Social Media Platforms - Display of User Location

SB 932 requires social media platforms operating in Maryland to display the city and country (derived from IP address) of each adult user whose account is visible to a Maryland user. It applies to platforms like Facebook or Instagram, directly affecting both the platforms (which must implement this display) and Maryland users (who gain visibility into the general location of other users they interact with). The law explicitly excludes minors' locations from display and defines "general geographical location" to exclude precise GPS data. This is a consumer protection measure focused on transparency, not data collection or sharing.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyRequires social media platforms to display user location for consumer protection, aligning with data privacy regulations and transparency measures.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Data Privacy Social Media

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passed · Maryland · House of Delegates Mar 25, 2026

HB 1456: Consumer Protection - Residential Property Advertisement - Ownership Verification

HB 1456 requires real estate websites, social media platforms, and other commercial entities to verify that the person advertising a residential property for sale or lease is either the legal owner or their authorized agent before publishing the listing. Commercial entities must maintain this verification for at least three years and immediately remove any listing published without proper verification. Violations would be treated as unfair, deceptive, or abusive trade practices under Maryland’s Consumer Protection Act, subject to enforcement and penalties. This bill directly affects online property listing services and real estate platforms that publish residential property advertisements. It aims to prevent fraudulent listings by mandating ownership verification as a standard practice.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyRequires tech platforms to verify property owners, preventing deceptive listings under consumer protection laws, aligning with regulating tech for user safety.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Social Media

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in committee · Maryland · Senate Feb 9, 2026

SB 602: Algorithmic Addiction Fund - Establishment

SB 602 establishes the Algorithmic Addiction Fund in Maryland to use settlement funds from cases where social media algorithms harmed children. The fund, administered by the Maryland Department of Health, is financed by civil penalties from settlements related to social media harm and earns interest. It directly supports children by funding prevention programs (like school digital literacy campaigns), treatment services for mental health impacts (such as depression and anxiety), research, and evidence-based interventions. The fund is non-lapsing, meaning unused money rolls over annually, and all spending must align with the state budget.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesUses settlement funds (not new taxes) to directly fund children's programs like mental health services and digital literacy, advancing public service funding under fiscal management.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationFunds school digital literacy campaigns and mental health services for students, directly supporting K-12 educational programs and student well-being.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareFunds mental health treatment services (depression/anxiety) and prevention programs under Maryland Department of Health, directly supporting mental health services within healthcare.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyRegulates social media algorithms for child safety, using settlements to fund harm mitigation programs per bill's focus on algorithmic harm cases.95% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget Mental Health Substance Abuse Social Media

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in committee · Maryland · Senate Feb 18, 2026

SB 989: Child Exploitation Material - Civil and Criminal Actions (Safe Kids Act)

SB 989 (Safe Kids Act) creates a civil cause of action allowing parents or legal guardians of minors depicted in unlawful child exploitation material to sue online platforms that knowingly distribute such material. The bill defines "unlawful child exploitation material" to include AI-generated images that appear indistinguishable from real children, criminalizing platforms that knowingly issue, sell, or distribute these materials. It establishes remedies including actual damages, attorney fees, and punitive damages for affected families, while exempting platforms acting solely as transmission services. The law applies to social media, apps, and websites that create or distribute content featuring minors in sexual situations, including AI-generated depictions.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyRegulates platforms for distributing AI-generated child exploitation material, strengthening consumer protection and digital safety for minors.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Artificial Intelligence Online Safety Social Media

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in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 5, 2026

HB 693: Civil Actions - Distribution of Obscene Material to Minors

HB 693 creates a legal pathway for minors or their parents to sue commercial websites that knowingly distribute obscene material online to minors. It requires these entities to use reasonable age verification methods (like government ID or commercial systems) to confirm users are 18+ before accessing such content and prohibits retaining any user identifying information after verification. The bill excludes news organizations and internet service providers from these requirements. If a commercial entity violates these rules, affected individuals can seek damages for minors accessing obscene material or for improper retention of personal data. This law directly impacts websites hosting adult content and aims to protect minors from exposure to obscene material online.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyMandates age verification with data retention prohibition, protecting minors' privacy in online content access.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Data Privacy Online Safety Social Media

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in committee · Maryland · House of Delegates Feb 17, 2026

HB 715: Algorithmic Addiction Fund – Establishment

HB 715 establishes the Algorithmic Addiction Fund as a special, nonlapsing state fund to address harms linked to social media algorithms affecting children. The fund is financed by civil penalties from settlements/judgments about social media-related harm to youth, state budget appropriations, and interest earnings. It mandates the Maryland Department of Health to use these resources exclusively for evidence-based prevention, intervention, and treatment services - including school education programs on digital literacy, mental health support for issues like depression and anxiety, and research - prioritizing youth mental health outcomes. The fund cannot replace existing state funding for these services.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill uses state budget appropriations to fund youth services, aligning with funding essential public programs through fiscal management.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill establishes fund explicitly for school education programs addressing social media harm, directly funding educational services within schools.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareBill establishes fund for mental health services (prevention, intervention, treatment) addressing social media-related harm to children, directly supporting mental health initiatives.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyEstablishes fund to address social media algorithm harms to children via penalties on tech companies, aligning with regulating tech for consumer protection.95% confidence

Sub-Topics State Budget Mental Health Substance Abuse Social Media

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