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

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Anil Beephan and 13 co-sponsors

Allows NY social media users to request and receive a copy of their social graph from platforms, boosting data portability and user control.

PRINT NUMBER 8963B

Overview

Bill Number: A 8963

Title: NY Digital Choice Act

Primary Purpose: To require social media companies to provide covered users with a copy of the user's social graph upon request.

Sponsor: Alex Bores (primary)

Introduced: August 13, 2025

Status: Referred to the Committee on Consumer Affairs and Protection

What the bill would do

The core requirement is that social media platforms must furnish a covered user with a copy of that user's social graph when the user makes a request.

The “social graph” refers to the network of the user’s connections, relationships, interactions, and potentially related data tied to the user’s account, as defined in the bill (definitions would be specified in the text).

The bill focuses on data portability for users, ensuring they can obtain a comprehensive copy of data that represents their social connections and activity within the platform.

Key provisions (as described in available information)

Covered entity: Social media companies operating in New York State (specific definitions would be in the bill’s text).

Covered user: Individuals whose data is contained within the user’s social graph (definitions to be specified in the bill).

Core obligation: Upon request by a covered user, the platform must provide a copy of that user’s social graph.

Form of delivery: The law would specify the manner in which the data must be provided (e.g., downloadable format), though the details are not included in the provided summary.

Scope of data: Focused on the user’s social graph data; other personal data may be addressed by related provisions, depending on the final text.

Affected parties

Primary: Social media platforms operating in New York (subject to the bill’s requirements).

Covered users: Individuals who use social media services and wish to obtain their social graph data.

Other stakeholders could include data privacy advocates, researchers, and consumer protection agencies monitoring compliance.

Procedural and timeline aspects

Current action: Referred to the New York State Assembly Committee on Consumer Affairs and Protection.

No effective date or enforcement timeline is stated in the available information.

Legislative status indicates ongoing consideration; further actions (hearings, amendments, voting) would follow in committee and chamber proceedings.

Potential impacts and considerations

Consumer empowerment: Enhances user control over personal data and network information.

Data portability burden: Could impose compliance and data handling requirements on platforms to assemble and deliver complex graph data.

Privacy and security: Platforms will need to ensure secure transfer methods and protect against inappropriate access during data delivery.

Competitive landscape: May influence how social platforms implement data accessibility features compared to other jurisdictions.

Next steps to watch

Monitor amendments or definitions in the bill text (definitions of “covered user,” “social graph,” and delivery requirements).

Track committee actions and potential votes in the Consumer Affairs and Protection Committee.

Observe any updates on enforcement, penalties, or timelines if the bill advances.

Bill