Bill > S0268

This bill introduces the Age-Appropriate Code Design Act to regulate online services' interactions with minors, requiring them to implement robust protections for children and teenagers under 18. The legislation mandates that covered online services, which meet certain revenue or data processing thresholds, must exercise reasonable care to prevent potential harms to minors such as compulsive usage, psychological distress, identity theft, and discrimination. Services must provide easily accessible tools for users to limit communication, control privacy settings, opt out of design features like infinite scroll and personalized recommendations, and restrict time spent on the platform. The bill prohibits targeted advertising to minors, limits data collection to only necessary information, and requires services to provide parental monitoring tools that are set to the highest protection level by default. Online services must also establish reporting mechanisms for potential harm, create comprehensive annual public reports audited by independent third parties, and disclose their design safety and privacy protections clearly. Violations can result in significant financial penalties, including treble damages, and potential personal liability for company officers. The law aims to create a safer online environment for minors by giving them and their parents more control over their digital experiences and data privacy.

Business and Industry, Justice

https://www.scstatehouse.gov/billsearch.php?billnumbers=0268&session=126&summary=B