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Texas investigates tech firms over children's privacy practices

LEGAL NEWSLINE

Monday, December 23, 2024

Texas investigates tech firms over children's privacy practices

State AG

Attorney General Ken Paxton has initiated investigations into Character.AI and fourteen other companies, including Reddit, Instagram, and Discord. The focus is on their privacy and safety practices for minors under the Securing Children Online through Parental Empowerment (SCOPE) Act and the Texas Data Privacy and Security Act (TDPSA).

The SCOPE Act restricts digital service providers from sharing a minor's personal information without parental consent. It also mandates that companies offer tools for parents to manage their child's account privacy settings. The TDPSA requires companies to provide notice and obtain consent when collecting minors' data.

"Technology companies are on notice that my office is vigorously enforcing Texas’s strong data privacy laws. These investigations are a critical step toward ensuring that social media and AI companies comply with our laws designed to protect children from exploitation and harm," stated Attorney General Ken Paxton.

These investigations come after Paxton's lawsuit against TikTok for violating the SCOPE Act's safety and privacy requirements.

Earlier this year, Paxton launched a significant data privacy initiative, resulting in a lawsuit against General Motors for allegedly surveilling drivers and sharing data with insurance firms.

In July, Paxton secured a $1.4 billion settlement with Meta over unlawful facial recognition data collection—the largest settlement by a single state.

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