ANNAPOLIS, Md. — Maryland Governor Wes Moore on Thursday signed two bills aimed at increasing the protection of personal data online from major technology companies. Among them is a bill that would make Maryland the second state to place strong limits on information collected about children.
The measure, known as the “Maryland Kids Code,” aims to limit the data that can be collected from children online and protect them from a flood of harmful content they weren't trying to find. .
“The bottom line is that big tech companies have been preying on and victimizing our children for far too long,” said state Sen. Ben Cramer, a Democrat who lives on the outskirts of the nation's capital.
Cramer noted that big tech companies tried to assure lawmakers that the industry could address the problem without government intervention. “But the truth is, letting the fox tend the chicken coop has made Big Tech fat and greedy because they have prioritized cash over children,” the senator said.
Supporters say the new child protection law is designed to withstand court challenges like the one that blocked California's law. For example, supporters said the measure incorporates case law and established consumer protection laws.
Carl Szabo, NetChoice's vice president and general counsel, said the group shares lawmakers' desire to better protect children online. “But this goal can be achieved in a way that does not violate the Constitution and leave many serious unintended consequences in its wake,” he said.
NetChoice is a commercial association whose members include Google, Amazon, Meta, and TikTok. It challenged the California law.
“Unfortunately, the legislation Governor Moore signed today will not achieve its goal of creating a safer online environment for Maryland’s youth. An unconstitutional law will keep no one safe. Mary “By disrespecting the rights and privacy of our citizens, Rand State legislators have unfortunately signed a path that will make life even worse for everyone, especially children,” Szabo said in an email. .
Under this law, with some limited exceptions, companies can by default create profiles of children and individuals who are not reasonably necessary to provide online products in which children actively and knowingly engage. We cannot process your data.
The bill's sponsor, Democratic Rep. Jared Solomon, said lawmakers were careful to ensure the measure was not intended to throttle available content. He said protective language was added to ensure children are not prevented from searching for content online.
“If you want to go and look for something you probably shouldn't see, we're not going to remove it from the internet,” said Solomon, a Montgomery Democrat. “But what we're saying to companies is that you shouldn't essentially accumulate data about someone and assume that that's the content they want to see.”
Design It For Us, a coalition that advocates for safer social media and online platforms for children, praised the new law.
“This will help other states pass and adopt much-needed Kids Code legislation and end Big Tech's power over our safety and privacy,” said Zaman Qureshi, co-chair of the group. I look forward to hitting.”
The Democratic governor also signed the Maryland Online Data Privacy Act of 2024.
The new law will impose certain obligations on businesses to protect individuals' personal information. For example, businesses that hold personal information must implement and maintain security procedures and practices to protect the information from unauthorized access, use, modification, and disclosure.
“Guardrails will be put in place for how much data companies can collect from people online and what they do with it, and consumers will have more control over their data,” said Rep. Sarah Love, D-Montgomery County, a sponsor. “It will give us more control,” he said. Measure.
The new law also provides consumer protections and rights related to online personal data controlled or processed by certain entities doing business in Maryland or providing services or products intended for residents of the state. , creating a disclosure obligation.
Consumers also have the right to opt out of processing of their personal data for the purposes of targeted advertising, sales of personal data, and certain profiling activities.