Plain English Breakdown
The official text mentions existing laws (Protecting Our Kids from Social Media Addiction Act and Digital Age Assurance Act) but does not detail their specific rules in this summary.
AB-1709: Online Safety Rules for Users Under 16
This law stops covered platforms from letting users under age 16 create accounts with addictive features and creates a new commission to advise on online safety.
What This Bill Does
- Prohibits covered platforms from allowing users under 16 years of age to create or maintain an account that provides access to addictive features.
- Requires covered platforms to take reasonable steps to ensure users under 16 are not offered or provided any addictive feature on the platform.
- Authorizes the Attorney General, with advice from the e-Safety Advisory Commission, to write rules and change which websites count as 'covered platforms' if needed for safety.
- Imposes a civil penalty on platforms that do not follow these laws.
- Establishes an e-Safety Advisory Commission inside the Department of Justice to advise the Attorney General on online safety.
Who It Names or Affects
- Operators of covered internet websites and mobile applications
- Users who are under 16 years of age
- The Attorney General and local public prosecutors
Terms To Know
- Covered platform
- An internet website, online service, or app that makes addictive features available to users under 16.
- Addictive feature
- A specific part of a digital service defined by the law as having potential for addiction.
- Civil penalty
- A fine or money payment required when someone breaks the rules.
Limits and Unknowns
- The exact definition of 'addictive feature' is not detailed in this summary and depends on future regulations.
- The specific amount of fines for breaking the law is not listed in the provided text.
- The bill has passed the Legislature, but a final effective date is not shown.