Rebecca Weitzel Garcia

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On April 3, 2024, the UK Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) released a statement setting out its priorities for protecting children’s privacy online. The priorities reflect the ICO’s strategy for the next phase of implementing its Children’s code of practice (also known as the “AADC”) and signal a focus by the regulator on the operations of social media and video-sharing platforms (platforms). The ICO will look at platforms’ default settings for children’s profiles, recommender systems and how they obtain consent to the processing of children’s data. The statement also indicates that the ICO will conduct audits of EdTech providers to identify privacy risks and potential noncompliance with applicable legislation.Continue Reading UK Privacy Regulator Details Next Stages of Its Strategy to Protect Children Online

On March 25, 2024, Governor Ron DeSantis signed Florida’s HB 3. The law requires that social media platforms prohibit users under 14 years old from creating accounts and requires these platforms to obtain parental consent for account registrants who are 14 or 15 years old. The law also imposes age verification requirements for online services that knowingly distribute a significant amount of “harmful” content.Continue Reading State Social Media Law Patchwork Emerging: Florida Passes Law to Restrict Minors’ Use of Online Services

On March 13, 2024, Governor Spencer Cox signed Utah’s Social Media Amendments, SB 194 and HB 464. Utah was the first state last year to pass laws strictly limiting minors’ use of social media. These laws were challenged in two lawsuits: one brought by social media users and another brought by NetChoice, a trade association representing internet companies.Continue Reading Utah Passes New Versions of Social Media Laws for Minors in Response to Challenges

On February 13, 2024, the New York Attorney General Letitia James and New York State Education Department (NYSED) Commissioner Betty A. Rosa announced a settlement with College Board to resolve allegations that College Board violated New York Education Law § 2-d, the state’s student privacy law.Continue Reading Time to Hit the Books for Student Privacy Compliance: College Board Agrees to Pay $750K for N.Y. Student Privacy Violations

On June 13, 2023, Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed the Securing Children Online through Parental Empowerment Act (HB 18) (SCOPE Act). With this signing, Texas joins Utah and Arkansas in regulating social media and its impact on minors and their mental health.

The SCOPE Act requires covered “digital service providers” to provide minors with certain data protections, prevent minors from accessing harmful content, and give parents tools to manage their child’s use of the service. The Act also has age verification requirements for digital service providers that knowingly distribute a significant amount of “harmful” or “obscene” content.Continue Reading Texas Joins Other States in Enacting Social Media Law for Minors