HB1083
To Create The Arkansas Kids Online Safety Act.
AI-Generated Summary
This bill, titled the "Arkansas Kids Online Safety Act," aims to establish a legal framework for protecting minors online. It defines key terms such as "child," "minor," "connected device," and "covered platform," with "minor" defined as sixteen years of age or younger and "child" as twelve years of age or younger. The act imposes a duty of care on covered platforms to implement reasonable measures to prevent harm to minors. This harm includes specific mental health disorders, addiction-like behaviors, bullying, sexual exploitation, the promotion of drugs and alcohol, and predatory marketing. Covered platforms are required to offer safeguards for minors, such as limiting communication and public access to personal data. Additionally, the bill mandates tools to limit compulsive usage, control personalized recommendation systems, and restrict geolocation sharing. It also requires options for minors to delete their data and limit screen time. Parents are to be provided with tools to manage their minor's privacy and account settings, restrict purchases, and monitor time spent on platforms. The act also mandates reporting mechanisms for harms to minors and requires covered platforms to respond to such reports.
Potential Impact Analysis
Who Might Benefit?
The primary beneficiaries of this bill would be minors in Arkansas, aiming to provide them with increased protection from various online harms. Parents or legal guardians of minors would also benefit through enhanced tools to monitor and control their children's online activities and data. Additionally, mental health professionals and organizations focused on child welfare may see a reduction in issues related to online-induced psychological distress, addiction, and exploitation among minors. The general public could also benefit from a safer online environment for younger individuals.
Who Might Suffer?
Entities operating online platforms, messaging applications, and video streaming services that are targeted to minors, defined as "covered platforms," would be most directly and negatively impacted. These platforms would incur costs associated with redesigning features, implementing new safeguards, developing parental control tools, and establishing reporting mechanisms. This could include significant technological and operational changes. Businesses that rely heavily on individual-specific advertising to minors, based on personal data or psychological profiling, might also face limitations on their marketing strategies. Furthermore, covered platforms could face legal liabilities if they fail to comply with the requirements outlined in the bill.