October 30, 2026

Hi there,

🎃 Don’t Let the Latest Children’s Privacy News Spook You!

We’re back—and there’s certainly no shortage of news to catch up on!

It’s been a busy few months in children’s privacy and online safety, with major court decisions, new legislation, enforcement actions, and emerging AI safeguards reshaping the regulatory landscape around the world.

In the U.S., courts have cleared the way for Georgia and Florida to move forward with laws restricting children’s access to social media, while Google’s $8.25 million children’s privacy settlement has gained approval. Meanwhile, Meta and Snap are heading to trial over allegations of social media harms, and states continue to advance new requirements addressing age assurance, online safety, and AI.

Across the Atlantic, UK regulators Ofcom and the ICO are putting age assurance in the spotlight, releasing new assessments and guidance on effective age checks and the role of app stores in protecting children. The EU continues to advance discussions around children’s digital rights and proposed age restrictions.

Elsewhere, Canada has introduced a Children’s Privacy Code, while Australia is advancing digital duty of care legislation, further demonstrating the global momentum toward greater accountability for children’s online experiences.

And that’s just the beginning! We’ve also gathered new research, industry insights, and reports exploring everything from generative AI and children’s rights to how teens engage with digital content.

No tricks here—just the news and insights you need to stay informed. 👻

We’ve rounded up the latest headlines and resources below so you can catch up on what’s happening across the globe, all in one place.

Happy Halloween from the PRIVO team! 🎃

United States:

New York Passes Law Limiting AI Chatbots Usage For Minors (NDTV World) Read more >

California Governor signs the strongest child safety chatbot and social media laws in the nation (Governor Newsom) Read more > 

Court lifts block on Georgia law that restricts children’s access to social media (WABE | NPR) Read more >

Florida wins key ruling allowing it to enforce a law that targets social media use by kids (WHEC News 10) Read more >

California Enacts Covered Platform Age Restrictions and Establishes e-Safety Advisory Commission (Hunton) Read more >

Google $8.25M Children's Privacy Settlement Gains Approval (MediaPost) Read more >

Meta, Snap head to trial in another case about social media's harms (AFP) Read more >

Judge Rejects FTC-TikTok $400M Settlement Over Children's Privacy (MediaPost) Read more >

Trump admin fights back after judge rejects TikTok settlement (AlterNet) Read more >

West Virginia sues TikTok, alleging app is ‘harming kids’ (The Hill) Read more >

CCIA Raises Concerns with Vermont’s Proposed Age-Appropriate Design Code Rules (CCIA) Read more > 

Vermont’s Proposed AADC Rules Would Force A Redesign Of How Online Services Present Content To Minors, Reaching Far Beyond Social Media Companies (Mayer | Brown) Read more >

Florida Sets National Standard for Responsible AI in Classrooms—From VPK Through College (Florida Department of Education) Read more >

Alabama is Sued Over App Store Age Verification Law (Reclaim the Net) Read more >

Microsoft commits to sweeping AI privacy rules for students. Will other tech follow? (Fox17) Read more >

Texas Judge Finds TikTok Liable For Misleading Parents About Child Safety (The Dallas Express) Read more >

Utah becomes the first US state to target VPNs with a strict age verification law, but top providers refuse to budge (Tech Radar) Read more >

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Europe & UK:

EU hits pause on country-level social media bans for children (CourtHouse News) Read more >

Ofcom's Report on the use of app stores by children (Ofcom) Read more >

TikTok withdraws two appeals in children’s privacy action and accepts £12.7m fine (ICO) Read more >

Where Does the KIDS Act Fit in the EU’s Digital Rulebook? (Tech Policy Press) Read more >

How age checks at age 16 can work to underpin UK’s social media ban (Ofcom) Read more >

Ofcom's Rapid assessment of highly effective age assurance at 16 (Ofcom) Read more >

ICO statement on Highly Effective Age Assurance (ICO) Read more >

Three years on from the Online Safety Act: lawfare and the need for robust enforcement (5Rights Foundation) Learn more

Report Launch - European children’s rights in the age of generative AI (Digital Futures for Children centre, EU Kids Online, LSE & 5Rights Foundation) Read more > 

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Other News:

Canada introduces landmark Children’s Privacy Code, but gaps in accountability remain (5Rights Foundation) Learn more

Digital duty of care legislation introduced into Australian parliament (Pinsent Masons) Read more > 

Report- Culture Makers: How Teens Define Fandoms, Trends & Spend (SuperAwesome) Read more >

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