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Bill

Bill

A 4065

Requires social media networks to verify the age of account holders

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Brian Cunningham

Requires social networks to verify account holders' ages to protect minors online.

REFERRED TO CONSUMER AFFAIRS AND PROTECTION
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · A 4065

Summary of Bill A 4065

Overview

  • Bill Number & Title: A 4065 — Requires social media networks to verify the age of account holders
  • Status: Referred to the Committee on Consumer Affairs and Protection
  • Introduced: January 31, 2025
  • Sponsor (primary): Brian Cunningham
  • Related Bills: A 8101 (prior-session)

Purpose and Intent

  • The bill seeks to mandate age verification for account holders on social media networks. The stated aim appears to be enhancing consumer protection and potential safeguards for minors online. Based on the provided information, the text does not specify the exact verification methods, thresholds, or exemptions.

Key Provisions (as indicated by the bill’s title)

  • Social media networks would be required to verify the ages of their account holders.
    • Note: The specific mechanisms for verification (e.g., documents, third-party age checks, or other methods), timelines for compliance, and any exemptions or governing standards are not detailed in the information provided.
  • Enforcement, penalties, and regulatory responsibilities are not described in the material given.

Scope and Affected Parties

  • Primary targets: Social media networks and platforms operating within the jurisdiction of the bill.
  • Account holders: All individuals with social media accounts would be subject to age verification under the bill’s requirements, with particular emphasis on protections for minors.
  • Other stakeholders (e.g., platform operators, users, privacy advocates) could be affected by compliance costs, privacy considerations, and potential changes to user experience.

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

  • The bill was introduced on January 31, 2025 and immediately referred to the Committee on Consumer Affairs and Protection.
  • The legislative actions listed show two identical entries on the same date, both indicating referral to the committee, with no further actions recorded in the provided material.
  • Status remains “referred,” indicating the bill has not advanced to full chamber consideration based on the information available here.

Practical Considerations and Potential Impacts

  • Consumer protection and safety: Could strengthen protections for minors by restricting access to age-inappropriate content or features.
  • Privacy and data security: Age verification processes may raise concerns about collection and storage of personal data; potential need for robust privacy protections and data handling standards.
  • Compliance costs for platforms: Verification systems could impose development, verification, and audit costs on social networks.
  • Legislative trajectory: As a referred bill with no listed further actions, passage would require committee approval, floor votes, and gubernatorial action (per standard workflow, though not specified in the excerpt).

If you’d like, I can tailor this summary to emphasize specific policy angles (e.g., privacy, business impact, or juvenile protection) or compare with the related A 8101 from prior sessions, once you provide or confirm additional details.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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