House Bill 173 Alabama 2026 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Ben Robbins Representative

Republican

Session

2026 Regular Session

Title

Consumer protection; access by minors to certain platform portions restricted; hours for sending notifications to covered minors limited; default platform settings on certain platforms required; mechanism for more stringent optional settings required; annual disclosure of certain data by covered operators required; violations a deceptive trade practice

Description

Under existing law, online services, products, and features accessible to children are not required to protect children's safety and may use privacy-invasive design features on children.

This bill would require covered platform operators to restrict access to portions of platforms that recommend, select, or prioritize for display media items based on information associated with the covered user or their device, unless it is determined that the covered user is not a minor or if parental consent is obtained.

This bill would limit the hours that covered operators may send notifications to covered minors.

This bill would require covered operators to use default platform settings that restrict covered minors from accessing the platform, receiving notifications, and engaging on the platform during certain time periods.

This bill would require all covered operators to establish and maintain a mechanism that permits parents or legal guardians to require more stringent settings on covered platforms.

This bill would require covered operators to annually disclose certain data for the previous HB173 INTRODUCED calendar year.

This bill would also make a violation of its provisions a violation of the Deceptive Trade Practices Act.

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Subjects

Consumer Protection