● Covered by 3 sources · 3 reportsMedium impact2 negative1 neutral
EFF Urges Governor Newsom to Veto California's AB 1709 Social Media Ban for Under-16s
Key points
- California's AB 1709 bans social media for users under 16.
- EFF urges Governor Newsom to veto the bill.
- The bill restricts access to online communities and information.
- Concerns raised about privacy due to age verification requirements.
- EFF argues the bill concentrates more power with social media companies.
- EFF states the bill could infringe on First Amendment rights.
- The bill allows companies to use any means for age verification, including government IDs or biometrics.
- Governor Newsom signed multiple measures, including AI chatbot restrictions.
- AI companies must implement mental health resources and safety protocols.
- AI companies must notify parents if a child turns off safety settings.
- California requires independent child safety audits and annual risk assessments for AI companies.
- AI companies could face legal liability for failing to meet new rules.
- Newsom signed broader AI auditing frameworks yesterday.
California Legislature Passes AB 1709
The California legislature has passed Assembly Bill 1709 (A.B. 1709), a measure that prohibits social media use for individuals under the age of 16. This legislation aims to restrict young people's access to online platforms.
EFF Calls for Veto
The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) is urging Governor Gavin Newsom to veto A.B. 1709. The organization states that while the bill may be well-intentioned, it is deeply flawed and could harm young people by cutting them off from essential information and experiences, especially vulnerable youth and marginalized groups who rely on online communities for support.
Impact on Social Media Functionality
If enacted, A.B. 1709 would prohibit platforms from offering recommendation algorithms and basic input features, such as following users or liking posts, to anyone under 16. The EFF argues that these are fundamental tools for online services to deliver content and for users to find communities and audiences for their own speech. The bill's broad definition of "addictive features" could effectively lock young people out of major digital services.
Privacy and Free Speech Concerns
The EFF characterizes A.B. 1709 as a "massive privacy and free speech nightmare." They contend that denying young people access to digital forums or stripping essential navigation tools does not enhance safety or health. Research cited by the EFF suggests social media bans are ineffective and can hinder young people's development of their voices and perspectives.
Furthermore, the bill could force platforms to implement invasive age-verification methods, such as government IDs or biometric scanning. This would concentrate more personal data with tech companies, creating "honeypots" of sensitive information, damaging online anonymity, and increasing the risk of data breaches for users of all ages.
Updates
- Governor Newsom signed multiple measures, including AI chatbot restrictions.
- AI companies must implement mental health resources and safety protocols.
- AI companies must notify parents if a child turns off safety settings.
- California requires independent child safety audits and annual risk assessments for AI companies.
- AI companies could face legal liability for failing to meet new rules.
- Newsom signed broader AI auditing frameworks yesterday.
- EFF argues the bill concentrates more power with social media companies.
- EFF states the bill could infringe on First Amendment rights.
- The bill allows companies to use any means for age verification, including government IDs or biometrics.
✨ This summary was generated by AI from the outlets' reporting listed below. It is not independently verified and may contain errors — check the original sources. How BrevFeed works →
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How outlets covered it
California Governor Gavin Newsom signed new laws to protect minors by restricting social media features and regulating AI chatbot interactions for young users. These measures require AI companies to implement safety protocols and social media platforms to disable "addictive features" for users under 16, potentially impacting how tech companies design and operate services for minors.
The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) has requested California Governor Gavin Newsom veto A.B. 1709, a bill that would effectively mandate age verification on social networks. The EFF argues the bill would lead to privacy-invasive identity checks, concentrate more power with social media companies, and potentially infringe on First Amendment rights.
The California legislature passed Assembly Bill 1709 (A.B. 1709), which bans social media use for individuals under 16, prompting the EFF to call for a gubernatorial veto. The EFF argues the bill restricts access to essential information and online communities, particularly for vulnerable youth, and could lead to privacy issues through mandatory age verification.