House Bill 186 prohibits the use of social media platforms by children. The bill relies on the common law contract principle that a child under 18 years old cannot enter into an enforceable contract. Accordingly, a social media platform must verify that a person seeking to become an account holder is at least 18 years old before accepting the person as an account holder. The method of age verification mirrors existing Texas law, using “a commercially reasonable method that relies on public or private transactional data to verify the age of an individual” (Civil Practice and Remedies Code, Sec. 129B.003(b)(1)(B)). Personal information obtained may be used for age verification purposes only and must be deleted immediately upon verification. HB 186 also requires social media platforms to delete a child’s account within 10 days of receiving a request from a verified parent or guardian (Business & Commerce Code, Sec. 509.101)
Technology
State AI Policy Preemption: Reconciliation Staving Off Heavy-Handed Regulation While Promoting Light-Touch Guardrails
The California Approach SB 1047-style AI regulation poses a threat to US hegemony in the AI race. Some particular concerns underscored by TPPF research include: Impossibly high pre-deployment standards, such as the assurance that there is zero possibility for covered models to have hazardous capabilities. Enmeshing AI into state functions with an explicit goal of...
May 22, 2025