Florida Attorney General proposes Safe Screens Act for minors

Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier has proposed the Safe Screens Act, a legislative package designed to expand digital protections for minors across social media, app stores, and artificial intelligence platforms.

The proposal introduces several mandates for technology companies, including requiring app stores to verify user ages and obtain parental consent for downloads. For social media users aged 14 to 17, the act would impose a two-hour daily usage limit and restrict access during school hours and overnight between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. Additionally, platforms would be required to disable features like infinite scrolling, autoplay, and cosmetic filters unless parents explicitly authorize them.

The legislation also targets AI chatbot providers, prohibiting them from simulating companionship with minors, generating sexually explicit content, or sharing material related to self-harm and suicide. The act seeks to establish broader regulatory obligations for tech companies following a recent judicial setback in which a judge rejected Florida’s attempt to force Meta Platforms to overhaul Instagram and Facebook through court orders.

Violations of the proposed law could result in penalties of up to $50,000 per occurrence.