New York State Assembly on June 7th passed two bills proposed by State Senators Guonade and Li Rosha aimed at protecting children online. The bills, named the “Stop Addictive Feeds Exploitation for Kids Act” (referred to as the Child Safety Act) will restrict the times at which social media can push messages to children to prevent them from becoming addicted to social media notifications. The “New York Child Data Protection Act” ensures the security of children’s personal information. Both bills are supported by New York Governor Kathy Hochul and New York Attorney General Letitia James.
State Senator Andrew Gounardes said, “New York sent a clear message to big tech companies: your profits are not more important than our children’s privacy and well-being. As a father of two children, this victory is not personal; I especially thank young people, parents, educators, and organizations from across the state who have fought back against the tech industry’s lobbying and lies, demanding a safer digital world.”
“It has been over twenty years since the last update to children’s online privacy laws. The passage of these bills marks New York taking the lead in prioritizing the safety and privacy of New Yorkers.” State Assemblywoman Nily Rozic stated. “Through the Child Safety Act and the New York Child Data Protection Act, we protect our children from the harmful effects of addictive algorithms and unchecked data collection.”
The “Stop Addictive Feeds Exploitation for Kids Act” (SAFE for Kids Act) requires social media companies to restrict the delivery of addictive content to users under 18 on social platforms and prohibits social media platforms from sending addictive notifications to minors between midnight and 6 am without parental consent.
The Child Safety Act empowers the office of New York Attorney General Letitia James to take action, with violators facing civil penalties of up to $5,000 per offense along with other remedial measures. The act also requires social media companies to establish age verification and parental consent methods, subject to verification and approval by the Attorney General’s office.
The New York Child Data Protection Act prohibits websites from collecting, using, sharing, or selling personal data of anyone under 18 without informed consent or an absolute necessity. The law similarly authorizes the Attorney General’s office to enforce compliance, with violators facing civil penalties of up to $5,000 per offense.