BURLINGTON, Vt. (WCAX) – Advocates are pushing for legislation before the governor they say would protect kids’ privacy online.
Demonstrators gathered at Burlington City Hall Monday to urge Governor Phil Scott to sign the Vermont Kids Code into law. H. 121 includes new rules for social media companies aimed at protecting kids online by taking aim at algorithms that keep them glued to their screens for hours. It would also ban the sale of Vermonters’ Social Security numbers as well as any financial and medical information and would allow Vermonters to sue companies that break the law.
“As of right now, these products are not safe. Right now, these products are health-harming products. What this bill does, what the Kids Code does is it makes an attempt to make these products safer by design,” said Laura Derrendinger, a parent involved in the rally.
Governor Phil Scott and some online companies like the Vermont Country Store have expressed concerns about parts of the bill, saying it could open them up to nuisance lawsuits. He is expected to make a decision on the bill next week.