H 7746Children

Commercial Law - General Regulatory Provisions - Rhode Island Children’s Online Safety Act

Requires social media apps to verify age, restrict strangers from contacting minors, and mandate parental approval for settings and purchases.

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Affected

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Introduced Feb 12, 2026Committee House Innovation, Internet, & Technology

Plain-English Summary

This legislation creates the "Rhode Island Children’s Online Safety Act." It mandates that social media platforms verify the age of their users. For users under 18, accounts must default to strict privacy settings that prevent strangers from messaging, tagging, or viewing the minor's profile. It requires parental approval for any financial transactions made by minors and for friend requests for children under 13. The bill also prohibits platforms from using deceptive design tricks, known as "dark patterns," to manipulate children. The Attorney General is authorized to enforce these rules and fine companies for violations.

For younger readers

This new law helps keep kids safe when they use the internet. It says that apps like social media must check to see how old you are. If you are a kid, the app has to make sure strangers cannot see your profile or send you messages unless your parents say it is okay. Also, if you want to buy something on the app or add a new friend (if you are under 13), your mom or dad has to agree first. It stops apps from tricking you into doing things you don't want to do.

Who & Where It Applies

Impacted groups

Minors (under 18)Parents and GuardiansSocial Media Platforms (Operators)Attorney General's OfficeGeneral Internet Users (subject to age verification)

Impacted communities

All

Constitutional & Fiscal Check

High. Similar laws in states like California, Arkansas, and Ohio have been blocked by federal courts on First Amendment grounds. Courts have found that age verification requirements chill free speech by eliminating anonymity and creating barriers for adults. Additionally, requiring parental consent for older minors to access protected speech or social media accounts is often viewed as a violation of the minor's First Amendment rights. The definition of "dark patterns" may also face vagueness challenges under due process.

Estimated cost

Amount unknown

Estimated revenue

Amount unknown

Bill Analysis

Both viewpoints

For Progressives

Protects vulnerable youth from online predation, bullying, and commercial exploitation by mandating strict privacy defaults and restricting contact from strangers.
Regulates large technology corporations by prohibiting "dark patterns," which are manipulative design tactics used to exploit user behavior for profit.
Empowers the state Attorney General to hold powerful social media companies accountable through oversight and financial penalties, ensuring better corporate responsibility.
May endanger LGBTQ+ youth living in unsupportive or abusive households by granting parents surveillance powers over their online connections and interactions, potentially cutting them off from support networks.
Requires age verification systems that necessitate the collection of sensitive personal data or government IDs, creating significant privacy risks and potential surveillance concerns for all users.
Restricts the autonomy of older adolescents (ages 16-17) by subjecting them to the same strict parental controls as young children, limiting their ability to access information and communicate freely.

For Conservatives

Strengthens parental rights by requiring parental approval for financial transactions and allowing parents to oversee and override their children's online privacy settings and connections.
Protects children from exposure to harmful content, predatory strangers, and moral corruption by mandating age verification and private default settings on social platforms.
Holds big tech companies accountable for predatory business practices that undermine family values and exploit children through manipulative user interfaces.
Imposes heavy government regulations and compliance costs on private businesses, interfering with the free market and potentially stifling digital innovation.
Mandates age verification systems that essentially require a digital ID for internet use, raising concerns about government overreach, surveillance, and data privacy.
Expands the power of the Attorney General to intervene in private business operations and enforce subjective regulations regarding website design and "dark patterns."

Votes

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Full Bill Text

Changes to existing Rhode Island law · 75 additions

SECTION 1. Title 6 of the General Laws entitled "COMMERCIAL LAW — GENERAL REGULATORY PROVISIONS" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following chapter: 6-48.2-1. Short title. This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "Rhode Island Children’s Online Safety Act." 6-48.2-2. Definitions. As used in this chapter:

(1) "Connected" means that a covered minor and/or the covered minor’s parent or legal guardian has previously approved a connection with another user authorizing or permitting the other user to privately contact the covered minor.

(2) "Covered minor" means any user who is determined by an operator, through one or more commercially reasonable age-verification methods, to be under eighteen (18) years of age.

(3) "Financial transaction" means a transaction between users involving any form of currency, including virtual currency used within a covered platform, whether or not the currency may be converted to fiat currency.

(4) "Operator" means any person, business, corporation, partnership, association, or other legal entity that operates or provides a covered platform.

(5) "Parent" means a parent or legal guardian.

(6) "Covered platform" means a public or semi-public website, online service, online application, or mobile application that is used by a covered minor in this state and that allows users to create profiles, post content viewable by other users, and socially interact with other users as a significant part of the platform’s functionality.

(7) "Tag" means identifying a second user in posted content in a manner that links to that user’s profile.

(8) "User" means an individual who uses a covered platform and is not acting as an operator or as an agent of an operator. 6-48.2-3. Privacy by default for covered minors.

(a) No operator shall offer a covered platform in this state without implementing commercially reasonable age-verification measures to determine whether a user is a covered minor.

(b) The attorney general shall promulgate regulations identifying commercially reasonable and technically feasible age-verification methods, taking into consideration:

(1) The size and resources of the operator;

(2) The nature and audience of the covered platform; and

(3) Prevailing industry standards.

(c) For any user determined to be a covered minor, an operator shall, by default, ensure that users who are not connected to the covered minor may not:

(1) Communicate directly with the covered minor;

(2) View the covered minor’s profile;

(3) Tag the covered minor in posted content; or

(4) Engage in a financial transaction with the covered minor.

(d) A parent of a covered minor may override the default settings provided in subsection

(e) An operator shall notify the parent of a covered minor whenever the minor attempts to modify the default settings, and the parent shall approve or deny the request. 6-48.2-4. Parental approvals.

(a) For covered minors under thirteen (13) years of age, an operator shall require parental approval for all new connections.

(b) Operators shall provide parents with a readily accessible mechanism to view all connections associated with a covered minor’s account.

(c) For all covered minors, parental approval shall be required for all financial transactions, and parents shall have access to a transaction history at all times. 6-48.2-5. Prohibition on dark patterns. It shall be unlawful for an operator to deploy any user interface, design, or mechanism that intentionally subverts or impairs the rights or protections afforded to covered minors or their parents under this chapter. 6-48.2-6. Nondiscrimination. An operator shall not withhold, degrade, increase the cost of, or otherwise discriminate against a user for purposes of compliance with this chapter. 6-48.2-7. Scope.

(a) This chapter applies to conduct occurring wholly or partly within the State of Rhode Island.

(b) Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to impose liability inconsistent with 15 U.S.C. § 6502 and regulations promulgated pursuant to 5 USC § 553. 6-48.2-8. Rulemaking authority. The attorney general is authorized to promulgate rules and regulations necessary to implement and enforce this chapter. 6-48.2-9. Enforcement and remedies.

(a) The attorney general may bring an action in the name of the state to enforce this chapter.

(b) Remedies shall include injunctive relief, restitution, disgorgement, civil penalties not exceeding five thousand dollars ($5,000) per violation, and any other relief deemed appropriate by the court.

(c) The attorney general shall maintain a website to receive complaints, information, and/or referrals from members of the public concerning an operator's or covered platforms alleged compliance or noncompliance with the provisions of this chapter. 6-48.2-10. Severability. If any provision of this chapter or the application thereof is held invalid, such invalidity shall not affect other provisions or applications of the chapter.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.