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Attorney General seeks new investigative tools and supports Youth Online Safety Bill
Summary
The Attorney General described proposed bills to give the office civil investigative demands and confidential IDs for undercover investigators, said his team is reviewing an automated license-plate reader bill, and voiced support for a Youth Online Safety Bill that would limit addictive algorithms for minors.
The Washington Attorney General told reporters his office is supporting proposed legislation that would expand its investigative toolkit and urged careful review of bills affecting privacy and youth online safety.
On enforcement tools, the AG said the office currently can issue civil investigative demands (CIDs) under the Consumer Protection Act but lacks the same tool for enforcing state civil-rights statutes. He said a bill before the legislature would allow the office to issue CIDs in those cases and would give undercover investigators confidential identification to protect their identities while conducting investigations.
"So that's the type of work that we're really focused on to make sure that we have the best tools available, to accomplish these goals," the Washington Attorney General said, describing the proposals as intended to improve enforcement efficiency.
The AG also said his team is "looking closely" at a Senate bill heard in the Law and Justice Committee that would regulate automated license-plate readers, and that privacy and potential data-sharing concerns are under review.
On the Youth Online Safety Bill, the AG described prior legislative work and stakeholder consultation he said refined the proposal. He said the bill would ban "addictive algorithms for minors," limit notifications during school hours and late-night hours, and allow parents and children to access information. "I feel very confident that if the legislature reviews this closely, that it'll pass," he said.
Nut graf: The proposals reported by the AG cover both internal enforcement capacity (CIDs and confidential investigator IDs) and external public-policy areas (privacy rules and youth protections). Office staff will continue to advise lawmakers during the legislative session and review legal risks.
The AG said the office routinely engages with legislators on legal risk and will defend laws once enacted, whether passed by the legislature or through the initiative process.
