Maryland has just passed the "strongest" data privacy bills to protect children and consumers from big tech exploitation.
Gov. Wes Moore signed the Maryland Online Data Privacy Act and Maryland Age-Appropriate Design Code Act on Thursday to limit how much data companies collect from their users.
Non-profit group Public Interest Research Group touted the legislations as a solid step in providing users an opt-out from targeted ads and data tracking.
The child online protection law is even stricter, prohibiting video games, social media, and digital platforms from collecting and tracking personal data from users aged 18 and younger.
Maryland expects the newly passed laws will "really require them [Big Techs] to analyze their products for the potential harm that they might cause to young people."
The Online Data Privacy Act is set to go into effect in October 2025, while the Maryland Kids Code will be implemented sooner on Oct. 1, this year.
The legislations are expected to face pushback from big tech companies, including Amazon, Google, and Meta, on the laws' potential violations of the First Amendment.
More States Impose Social Media Restrictions Amid Data Privacy Concerns
Maryland's recent legislations follow the sweeping bills passed across several states to limit social platforms' access to children's data, albeit at differing severity and purposes.
New York is proposing a similar legislation under the Child Data Protection Act, aimed to "reduce the ability of online companies to commercialize and commodify children's and teen's data."
To do so, the legislation will require social media companies to provide an "informed consent" form to underage users before collecting their data.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has also recently signed a similar social media, although the law's restrictive measures were more directed towards underaged users than the companies themselves.
The Online Protection for Minors Act, which will take effect on Jan. 1, seeks to completely ban social media apps from children under 14 while requiring those aged 16 to provide signed approval from their parents to use social media.
Federal Gov't Cracks Down on Online Child Safety Concerns
The state legislations are being pushed on the federal government's efforts to update the existing Children's Online Privacy Protection Act to minimize the harmful impacts of targeted ads on children.
Congress is also promoting its own, albeit controversial, child safety bill following its hearing with social media executives.
The bills remain under Senate deliberation as pushbacks delay the approvals.
Related Article : Child Online Protection Bill Gains New Support Ahead of Senate Decision
