It’s official: NYC declares social media a public health hazard

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“Companies like TikTok, YouTube, and Facebook are fueling a mental health crisis by designing their platforms with addictive and dangerous features,” he said. “We cannot stand by and let Big Tech monetize our children’s privacy and jeopardize their mental health.”

Adams confirmed New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene Commissioner Dr. Ashwin Vasan issued an advisory to classify “unfettered access to and use of social media” as a public health hazard.”

The Hill | New York City mayor classifying social media as ‘public health hazard’

Florida: banning minors under 16 from social media

Florida legislature is moving HB 1 (2024 | FL) that would ban kids under 16 from being on social media. “Sites like TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, X, Snapchat and YouTube are expected to become targets, out of concern that they could affect young people’s mental health.”

Politico | Legislature wants kids on digital detox

legislative trend: kids and social media

  In 2023 Utah passed restrictions on kids using social media. Tech groups sued. Utah’s attorneys told the court that the Legislature would repeal and replace the laws in 2024. The Legislature is in the process of doing so. 

Salt Lake Tribune | Big changes to how Utah kids use social media are — again — in the works at the Legislature. Here’s why.

Business Trend. Ring no longer allow police access to footage without warrant.

Ring, the doorbell camera company, will no longer allow police to ask Ring users for video footage. Ring announced the new policy by blog post. Ring is owned by Amazon. @ABCNEWS

NPR | Ring will no longer allow police to request users’ doorbell camera footage

Open A.I. 1st State Partnership

Pennsylvania and Open A.I. have announced a new partnership. Governor Shapiro said, “I believe Pennsylvania can be a national leader in the safe and responsible use of generative AI in our government operations—and this first-in-the-nation pilot with OpenAI will help us safely and securely learn from and use this important technology to serve Pennsylvanians and empower our workforce.”

Route Fifty | The Keystone State partners with OpenAI for first-in-nation AI pilot

state action on AI policy

Executive Orders: California + Pennsylvania

Task Forces on A.I.:  New Jersey, Oklahoma and Wisconsin

Issued policy guidance:  Kansas, South Dakota and Utah

A smattering of model acts: European Union’s AI Act, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development’s Recommendations on Artificial Intelligence, &  National Institute of Standards and Technology’s AI Risk Management Framework

Route Fifty | A good AI policy needs to consider these 12 factors

AI use in advertising

Do we regulate AI voices/appearances in advertising? Well, there’s a sweepstakes that uses an AI generated Taylor Swift voice and face. The sweepstake is for a certain cookware brand that had nothing to do with these FaceBook ads. “In April, the Better Business Bureau warned consumers that fake celebrity scams made with A.I. were “more convincing than ever.”  hello laws and regulations.

NYTimes | No, That’s Not Taylor Swift Peddling Le Creuset Cookware