Platform Governance Laws & Regulations

EPIC Supports California Kids Online Safety Bill if Lawmakers Remove Social Media Ban

June 18, 2026

On Thursday, EPIC submitted a letter to the California Senate Privacy Committee urging amendments to AB 1709, a bill that—in its current form—would ban minors from having accounts on social media platforms that provide an addictive feed to any user.

• Platform Accountability & Governance

• Platform Governance Laws & Regulations

• Social Media Privacy

• The First Amendment

• Updates

Illinois passes Children’s Social Media Safety Act

June 1, 2026

The Illinois state legislature voted Monday to pass HB 5511, the Children’s Social Media Safety Act, which regulates harmful platform design like addictive feeds and overnight push notifications.

• Age Assurance

• Children's Privacy

• Data Protection

• Platform Accountability & Governance

• Platform Governance Laws & Regulations

• Updates

EPIC Encourages CalPrivacy to Prohibit Dark Patterns in Privacy Policies

May 20, 2026

In response to CalPrivacy’s request for input on the state’s privacy policy requirements, EPIC submitted comments on Wednesday advising the Agency to ensure that policies are easily accessible, do not use dark patterns, and directly link to ways Californians can exercise their privacy rights.

• Competition and Privacy

• Consumer Privacy

• Data Brokers

• Data Minimization

• Online Advertising & Tracking

• Platform Governance Laws & Regulations

• Social Media Privacy

• Updates

EPIC Joins Bipartisan Coalition Calling on State AGs to Hold Apple, Google Accountable for Platforming ‘Nudify’ Apps

May 19, 2026

On Tuesday, EPIC and a bipartisan coalition of 55 U.S.-based civil society groups led by UltraViolet Action called on state attorneys general to take legal action against Apple and Google for platforming deepfake or “nudify” apps.

• Artificial Intelligence and Human Rights

• Children's Privacy

• Online Harassment

• Platform Accountability & Governance

• Platform Governance Laws & Regulations

• Updates

To protect kids online, don’t ban them from social media. Regulate design.

April 30, 2026

Many state bills do not focus on regulating tech companies’ harmful design practices but instead on blocking kids’ access to social media and other apps unless they get parental consent. This is not an effective way to protect kids online.

• Age Assurance

• Children's Privacy

• Consumer Privacy

• Cybersecurity

• Data Minimization

• Data Protection

• Platform Accountability & Governance

• Platform Governance Laws & Regulations

• Privacy Laws

• Section 230

• Social Media Privacy

• The First Amendment

• U.S. State Privacy Laws

• Analysis

WIRED: Elon Musk’s XChat App Is More Like Facebook’s Messenger Than Signal

April 27, 2026

• Consumer Privacy

• Data Protection

• Platform Accountability & Governance

• Platform Governance Laws & Regulations

• Social Media Privacy

• News

EPIC Files Amicus Brief Countering Big Tech Claim that Surveillance-Based Feeds Are Protected by the First Amendment

April 13, 2026

On Monday, EPIC filed an amicus brief defending South Carolina’s Age-Appropriate Design Code, H. 3431, against the latest attempt by the tech industry to strike down laws designed to keep kids safe online.

• Children's Privacy

• Data Minimization

• Platform Accountability & Governance

• Platform Governance Laws & Regulations

• The First Amendment

• Updates

CNET: How to Make Sure Your Private Signal Messages Aren’t Still Lurking on Your Phone

April 10, 2026

• Communications Privacy

• Consumer Privacy

• Cybersecurity

• Encryption

• Platform Governance Laws & Regulations

• News

EPIC Testifies in Support of Rhode Island Age-Appropriate Design Code Approach

April 9, 2026

EPIC submitted testimony yesterday suggesting improvements to strengthen the Rhode Island Age-Appropriate Design Code (AADC). The RI House Innovation Internet and Technology Committee is considering the RI AADC, among other bills, to provide privacy and online safety protections for minors.

• Age Assurance

• Children's Privacy

• Consumer Privacy

• Data Protection

• Platform Accountability & Governance

• Platform Governance Laws & Regulations

• Social Media Privacy

• Updates

Biometric Update: FTC can do better on age assurance, say privacy rights’ groups

March 30, 2026

• Age Assurance

• Children's Privacy

• Consumer Privacy

• Data Minimization

• Data Security

• Online Advertising & Tracking

• Platform Governance Laws & Regulations

• News