New York Assembly Bill A08963

New York 2025-2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 8/13/25
• Refer: 8/13/25

Caption

Establishes the NY digital choice act requiring social media companies to provide covered users with a copy of the covered user's social graph at the request of the covered user; defines terms; provides requirements for the interoperability of covered users' data; grants the attorney general the authority to promulgate rules and regulations and enforce such provisions.

Impact

If enacted, the NY Digital Choice Act will fundamentally alter the way social media companies operate with regard to user data rights. By emphasizing portability and interoperability, it will require companies to adopt open protocols that allow for the sharing of social graphs, thereby standardizing data management practices across platforms. This could potentially lead to enhanced competition among social media services, as users may shift their data to platforms that offer better services or privacy protections without losing their established networks.

Summary

The bill A08963, known as the NY Digital Choice Act, seeks to establish stringent requirements for social media companies regarding user data. It mandates that these platforms provide users, referred to as 'covered users', with a copy of their social graphs upon request. This empowerment allows users to retain control over their personal data, facilitating easier transfer across different platforms, thereby increasing data portability. The bill recognizes the importance of user consent in sharing data and sets a framework for how such data can be accessed and managed between various social media firms.

Contention

This bill has raised notable points of contention amongst legislators and advocacy groups. Proponents argue that it enhances user autonomy and protects vulnerable users from data exploitation by large technology firms. Conversely, opponents are concerned about the economic implications for smaller social media platforms, fearing compliance costs and technical challenges might outweigh the benefits. There are also worries regarding the robustness of privacy safeguards associated with an open data transfer system, potentially leading to misuse of user data if not properly implemented.