Texas Attorney General Investigates Tech Platforms Over Child Safety

By Kanishka Singh

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced on Thursday that his office has initiated investigations into over a dozen technology platforms concerning their privacy and safety practices for minors.

The companies being investigated include AI chatbot startup Character.AI, alongside fourteen other platforms such as Reddit, Instagram, and Discord.

WHY IT'S IMPORTANT

Tech platforms are facing heightened scrutiny regarding their impact on children. According to a Harvard study published last year, top U.S. social media platforms generated an estimated $11 billion in advertising revenue from users under 18 in 2022.

U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy previously warned that social media use among young people could lead to body image issues, disordered eating, poor sleep quality, and low self-esteem, particularly among adolescent girls.

KEY QUOTE

"Technology companies are on notice that my office is vigorously enforcing Texas' strong data privacy laws," said Paxton.

CONTEXT

Social media companies have indicated they will collaborate with officials to safeguard young users and have introduced new tools aimed at protecting teens online, including parental control features. No immediate comments were available from these firms on Thursday.

Paxton’s statement emphasized that the investigations would target the platforms' compliance with two Texas laws: the Securing Children Online through Parental Empowerment (SCOPE) Act and the Texas Data Privacy and Security Act (TDPSA).

The SCOPE Act prohibits digital service providers from disclosing or selling a minor's personal identifying information without parental consent. It also mandates that companies equip parents with tools to manage privacy settings on their child's accounts.

The TDPSA outlines notice and consent requirements for companies that collect and utilize minors' personal data, as mentioned by Paxton's office.