ALBANY, N.Y. (NEXSTAR) — New York Governor Kathy Hochul wants video game and social media companies to block strangers from privately messaging children. The “Stop Online Predators Act” would also restrict artificial intelligence “friends” and offer mental health training in high school.
Hochul announced Monday that she’ll include the legislation in her State of the State address next week. If it becomes law, the New York State Attorney General could fine companies up to $5,000 for every violation.
S4609/A6549 requires online platforms to check the ages of their users and automatically turn on the highest privacy settings for users under 18. That’s supposed to prevent strangers from seeing a child’s profile, tracking their location, or sending them private messages.
RAISE Act vs. White House: The battle over New York AI regulation
The governor cited the 2022 Buffalo mass shooting, where the shooter was radicalized online while isolated during the pandemic. She also dismissed industry complaints that accurate age verification is technically difficult…