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Evan Davis advises clients in the technology, consumer products, retail, and video gaming industries on varied privacy and data protection matters.

Less than one month after Utah adopted the nation’s first law restricting the use of social media platforms by minors under 18, Arkansas last week enacted its Social Media Safety Act (the Act), SB396. The Act, which goes into effect on September 1, 2023, similarly bars minors from holding accounts on social media platforms without parental consent and requires social media companies to complete “reasonable age verification” via a third-party vendor.

Continue Reading Arkansas Becomes Second State To Enact Social Media Restrictions for Minors

On March 28, Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds signed Senate File 262, effective January 1, 2025, making Iowa the sixth state to offer comprehensive privacy protections. Iowa’s new legislation appears to be the most business-friendly omnibus privacy law yet, with fewer requirements than those of other states. The law will apply to a person who conducts business in Iowa or produces products or services targeted to Iowa residents, and who meets either of the following requirements in a calendar year: (1) processes the personal data of 100,000 consumers or more (consumers defined as residents of Iowa “acting only in an individual or household context”) or (2) controls or processes the personal data of at least 25,000 consumers and derives over 50% of annual gross revenue from the sale of personal data.

Continue Reading Joining the Privacy Party: Iowa Becomes the Sixth State To Adopt a Comprehensive Privacy Law

Utah state lawmakers are poised to change how (and when) minors who reside in Utah can use social media. Introduced in January, S.B. 152 and H.B. 311 recently cleared the Utah legislature and both bills have been sent to Governor Spencer Cox, who dismissed industry concerns that the bills would pose privacy risks, impede minors’ independence, and violate the First Amendment. If signed, the bills would go into effect on March 1, 2024.

Continue Reading Utah Legislature Approves Social Media Restrictions for Minors