An Act Concerning Data Privacy And Minors.
Additionally, the bill addresses advertising practices aimed at minors, prohibiting the promotion of products or services that are illegal for minors to purchase. Furthermore, it restricts targeted advertising based on personal information collected from minors. This aspect of the bill seeks to create a safer online environment where minors are not exposed to inappropriate products and services through marketing strategies that leverage their data.
House Bill 6601, known as 'An Act Concerning Data Privacy And Minors,' aims to enhance the online safety of minors by introducing specific requirements for social media platforms and websites that engage primarily with individuals under the age of eighteen. The bill mandates that such platforms must remove any content created by minors upon their request, thereby empowering young users to have control over their digital footprint. This provision is designed to protect minors from potential long-term repercussions of online content that they may regret as they grow older.
While the provisions of HB 6601 are aimed at protecting minors, there are concerns about how these regulations will be implemented by social media companies and how this may impact their operational models. Opponents of the bill may express worries that these regulations could place an undue burden on social media platforms, complicating compliance processes and possibly leading to a decline in engagement on these platforms. There may also be debates about the effectiveness of such measures in truly protecting minors from harmful content and advertising practices.