Senate committee backs bill to let parents seek deletion, requires age checks for some minors' social accounts
Get AI-powered insights, summaries, and transcripts
Subscribe
Summary
After extensive testimony for and against SB 17-47, the committee gave the bill a due‑pass recommendation; proponents said the measure restores parental control and protects children, while industry groups warned of privacy, security and constitutional problems.
The Senate Committee on Regulatory Affairs on Feb. 17 advanced SB 17‑47, a proposal that would require social media platforms to terminate accounts for minors under 14 — and for 14‑ and 15‑year‑olds when parental consent is not provided — and allow parents to request account termination and deletion of associated data.
Supporters framed the bill as a parental‑rights and child‑safety measure. Corinne Johnson, president of Utah Parents United, said parents need legal tools to control access and described her organization’s work on similar laws: “There really is no safe app,” she said, arguing that age verification and parental consent restore parental contracting control over children’s access to platforms.
Opponents included trade and technology groups that raised constitutional, privacy and implementation concerns. Patrick Hedger of NetChoice, a trade association representing platform companies, told the committee the bill creates practical and constitutional problems, pointing to court challenges in other states and to the security risks of centralized age‑verification systems. Jose Torres of TechNet warned that requiring parental verification and storing sensitive identity information could increase fraud and privacy‑risk. Jennifer Hanley, Meta’s head of safety policy for North America, urged the committee to pursue industry‑wide approaches such as app‑store parental‑consent models rather than app‑by‑app mandates.
The sponsor said stakeholder meetings with the House are ongoing and anticipated further drafting before the bill reaches the floor. Proponents urged the committee to press ahead; opponents asked for additional work to address enforcement, cross‑platform coverage and constitutional exposure.
The committee gave SB 17‑47 a due‑pass recommendation on a split vote. Members who voted no cited concerns about creating a database of children and unresolved legal risks; others said they supported continuing stakeholder negotiation to refine enforcement mechanisms.
What’s next: Sponsor and stakeholders will continue negotiations with an eye to floor amendments addressing age verification methods, who bears verification costs, and constitutional concerns.
Vote: Committee recommended due pass; recorded roll call reflected 4 ayes and 3 nays.