Assembly passes AB 2 to hold social media platforms financially accountable for harms to children

Assemblymember Al Muratsuki Lowenthal’s AB 2, aimed at holding large social media platforms accountable for harm to children, passed the California Assembly on a roll call of Ayes 59, Nos 0.

Lowenthal, the bill’s author, told the Assembly that AB 2 would impose “duty of care” incentives on major platforms so that companies that earn billions off young users take steps to reduce predictable harms to children and teenagers. “This legislation sets damage levels that can be meted out only if a court imposes financial responsibility on large social media companies when their own negligence has been proven,” Lowenthal said, adding the bill is intended to align social media with ordinary…