California Assembly Bill 1709 passed, bans social media recommendation features for users under 16

What happened

The California legislature passed Assembly Bill 1709, which would prohibit platforms from providing recommendation algorithms and related features to users under 16. The bill would require age‑verification methods that could involve government IDs or biometric scanning, raising privacy concerns. The Electronic Frontier Foundation is urging Governor Gavin Newsom to veto the measure.

Why it matters for trust and compliance

• Its status is passed one chamber. It is not law yet. Track it, but do not treat it as an obligation.
• The bill could force platforms to collect more personal data from minors while restricting their access to online speech.

Who is affected

Recommended actions

1. Check that privacy notices describe the practices this addresses.
2. Inventory where this data is shared or sold and whether opt-outs are honoured.
3. Inventory AI or automated decision systems in scope and their assessments.
4. Review age assurance and protections for minors' data.
5. Confirm handling of sensitive data categories meets the stricter rules.