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Tech coalition warns Vermont bill S.69 could prompt over‑censorship, harm vulnerable youth
Summary
A witness for the Chamber of Progress told the Vermont Senate Committee on Institutions that S.69’s broad definitions, a 2% threshold and an Attorney General rulemaking provision could force platforms to estimate users’ ages, risking privacy harms and biased outcomes for queer youth and youth of color.
Brianna January, northeast director for government relations at the Chamber of Progress, told the Vermont Senate Committee on Institutions on Feb. 20 that the coalition opposes S.69 — the proposed “age‑appropriate design” code — because its language and enforcement mechanisms would create de facto age verification and could produce harmful, unintended consequences for vulnerable youth.
The committee convened for a hearing on S.69 with Chair Wendy Harrison (Wyndham District) presiding and Senators Russ Ingalls (Essex District), Joe Major (Windsor), Rob Plunkett (Pennington) and Senator Sandbaum (New Orleans County District) participating. January testified that although the Chamber supports online safety, the bill’s broad, subjective mandates and a 2% usage threshold would force many online services to estimate or verify users’ ages, with privacy and bias risks.
“We want to be very clear that, while we are in opposition to S.69, online safety is of the utmost…
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