Assemblyman introduces legislation to protect children’s privacy online
Assemblyman Jordan Cunningham (R-San Luis Obispo).
–This week Assemblyman Jordan Cunningham (R-San Luis Obispo) announced that he has introduced a bill that would help protect children’s privacy online. Specifically, AB 891 would require parents to provide their express consent for minors to sign up for social media sites, enter into contracts, or agree to terms of service by prohibiting companies from obtaining parental consent through the minor.
“State law prohibits minors from signing a contract or a terms of agreement without parental consent, as the courts have found that minors lack the capacity to enter into a legal agreement,” said Cunningham. “To get around this, social media companies allow children to consent on behalf of their parents. This flies in the face of decades of precedent and already-existing state law, which prohibits one person from entering into a contract on behalf of another. This bill will put parents back into the driver’s seat and foster important conversations with their kids about online behavior and privacy before signing up for an account.”
AB 891 is sponsored by the Children’s Advocacy Institute and will be heard by the Assembly Judiciary Committee on March 23.
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