Sammy's Law requires large social media platforms (those with over 100 million monthly users or $1 billion in annual revenue) to create real-time tools allowing parents or third-party safety software providers to help protect children under 17 from online harms. Platforms must provide secure access to children's account data for safety software providers that register with the Federal Trade Commission and meet strict security and privacy requirements. Third-party providers can only use the data to address specific risks like cyberbullying, trafficking, or abuse, and must delete data after 14 days unless needed for a safety concern. The law creates a federal standard that prevents states from making their own rules about this type of platform access.
HR 6333, the Parents Over Platforms Act, requires app stores (like the Apple App Store or Google Play) and app developers to implement age verification systems for applications that offer different experiences for minors versus adults. It mandates app stores to ask users for age during signup, provide parents with tools to block age-inappropriate apps, and prevent developers from showing personalized ads to minors. The bill directly affects app stores, developers of "covered applications" (such as games or social media apps targeting children), and parents seeking to control their children’s app access. Key provisions include requiring developers to confirm if their app treats minors differently, obtain parental consent for age-restricted content, and use age signals from app stores to verify user age. The law applies to apps on smartphones, tablets, and gaming consoles but excludes websites and browsers.
The Kids Internet Safety Partnership Act establishes a new program within the Commerce Department to improve online safety for children under 18. The program will work with parents, educators, online platforms, and experts to identify risks and benefits of digital services for minors, then develop practical safety guidelines. Within two years, it will publish a detailed guide for platforms on implementing features like age verification, parental controls, and design changes that reduce addictive elements (e.g., endless scrolling). The program will also release regular reports tracking how well platforms adopt these safety measures. The initiative will end after five years.
The App Store Accountability Act requires major app stores (with over 5 million US users) to verify users' ages at account creation and obtain verifiable parental consent before minors can download apps or make in-app purchases. App stores must clearly display age ratings for apps, provide age verification data to developers, and notify parents of significant app changes affecting minors. App developers must verify user age and parental consent through the app store's system, use age data only for age-appropriate restrictions, and cannot enforce terms against minors without verified parental consent. The Federal Trade Commission and state attorneys general will enforce these requirements, with app developers potentially shielded from liability if they follow the rules and industry standards.
HR 6484, the Kids Online Safety Act, requires social media platforms and online services (termed "covered platforms") to implement specific safety measures for minors under 17. The bill mandates default privacy settings that limit communication with other users, default time limits on platform usage, and parental control tools to monitor and restrict children's online activity. Platforms must prevent advertising of harmful products like drugs, alcohol, and gambling to minors and provide clear safety information before minors register or make purchases. The legislation also requires annual independent audits of platforms' compliance with these safety measures and establishes a Kids Online Safety Council to provide recommendations on online safety for minors.
The GUARD Act requires companies providing AI chatbots to verify users' ages using reliable methods (like government IDs, not just self-reported birth dates) and prohibits minors under 18 from accessing "AI companions" designed for emotional interaction. It mandates clear disclosures that chatbots are not human and cannot falsely claim to be licensed professionals (e.g., therapists), while banning features that solicit minors for explicit content or promote violence. Covered entities must implement secure age verification processes for all accounts, including periodic checks, and face civil penalties up to $100,000 per violation for noncompliance. The law directly affects tech companies operating AI chatbots in the U.S. and aims to reduce minors' exposure to harmful AI interactions.
HR 6334, the Deepfake Liability Act, requires online platforms to implement specific processes to address non-consensual intimate content and cyberstalking. It amends Section 230 of the Communications Act to create a "duty of care" for platforms, mandating they prevent and remove intimate privacy violations (like non-consensual deepfakes or intimate images) within 48 hours of a valid request. The law directly affects victims of non-consensual intimate content and platforms classified as "covered platforms" (social media, apps, and websites), while excluding email, messaging services, and data storage. Key provisions include minimum data logging for legal proceedings, clear removal processes, and a 48-hour removal timeline for verified violations.
The SCREEN Act requires online platforms that create, host, or make available pornographic content for profit to implement age verification technology that prevents minors from accessing such content. Covered platforms must use technology to verify users' age and block access to content defined as "harmful to minors" - material that appeals to prurient interest, depicts sexual acts in a patently offensive way, and lacks serious value for minors. The Federal Trade Commission will enforce the law, requiring platforms to conduct regular audits, maintain reasonable data security for age verification information, and make their verification processes public. Platforms must comply with these requirements within one year of the bill's enactment, with the goal of protecting minors from exposure to online pornography.
This bill establishes a 5-year pilot program to address technological abuse against victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. It authorizes the Director of the Office on Violence Against Women to award up to 15 grants (max $2 million each) to "eligible consortia" - partnerships between tech-focused institutions (like universities or private tech groups) and domestic violence/sexual assault centers - to provide tech devices for victims and develop safety tools. A separate $20 million grant program funds nonprofits and schools to create training curricula for organizations supporting victims. The bill directly affects victims experiencing digital stalking or harassment and the service providers who assist them, with both programs requiring congressional review after completion.
This bill requires the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to launch a nationwide online safety education program within 180 days of enactment, targeting minors under 17. It mandates collaboration with schools, parents, online platforms, and nonprofits to promote best practices for safe internet use, including protection from harmful content (like adult material or cybercrimes) and mental health risks. The FTC must submit annual reports to Congress for 10 years detailing these efforts. The law directly affects minors, parents/guardians, schools, and online platforms through these educational initiatives, without restricting content or imposing new regulations.
