United States of America: Kids Online Protection and Anti-Grooming Act (HB 37) enters into force

On 1 June 2026, the Kids Online Protection and Anti-Grooming Act (Act No. 236, House Bill No. 37) enters into force. The Act applies to operators of covered platforms in Louisiana, defined as online platforms, online video games, messaging applications, and video streaming services used by residents under the age of 16. Broadband providers, email services, teleconferencing services, wireless messaging services, nonprofit corporations, business-to-business software providers, and professional networking platforms among others are excluded. The Act requires covered platform operators to implement default privacy settings for minor accounts, including prohibiting adults from connecting to a minor without express consent from the minor's legal representative, prohibiting unsolicited private or direct messages to a minor, restricting the visibility of a minor's account to connected accounts only, and prohibiting disclosure of a minor's precise geolocation to any person other than the minor's legal representative or authorised law enforcement. Platforms are also required to notify a minor's legal representative within a reasonable time if the minor is exposed to sexually explicit material or a new connection is made on the platform. Legal representatives linked through parental supervision tools may manage account settings, view and block connected accounts, and place limits on microtransactions. A legal representative may opt out of these protections by providing express consent to the platform. Violations are subject to civil fines of up to USD 10'000 per violation, enforced by the Attorney General, with operators given 45 days to cure an alleged violation before a civil enforcement action may be filed.