United States of America: Introduced California Social Media Users’ Bill of Rights including consumer protection measures

On 20 June 2024, the California Social Media Users’ Bill of Rights was introduced in the California Legislature, incorporating significant consumer protection measures. The Bill mandates that social media platforms must provide users with easily accessible, concise, and user-friendly policies regarding usage, privacy, and terms of service. Additionally, under this legislation, social media platforms are required to analyse and minimise the potential negative impacts of their algorithms and AI tools on users, especially young people. This includes collaborating with verified independent experts to identify and mitigate harms, improve intervention effectiveness, and share platform data with researchers to develop strategies aimed at reducing risks, particularly for children. Furthermore, the Bill stipulates that platforms must offer users clear and accessible explanations about the use of algorithms, AI, and other tools to retain users. Platforms must ensure users have easy access to tools on their websites that facilitate control over content in their feeds, provide transparency on AI-generated content, and allow users to opt out of targeted advertisements, cookies, and AI-generated content.