Connecticut Attorney General William Tong issued a statement on May 1, 2026, following final passage of bipartisan legislation to combat youth social media addiction and regulate artificial intelligence harms. The legislation imposes new requirements on social media companies regarding minor users, including parental consent for addictive algorithms, default privacy settings, and annual reporting obligations. It also establishes rules for AI chat bots and automated employment decision tools, including disclosure requirements and self-harm detection protocols.
The legislation requires social media companies to obtain parental consent for addictive algorithms and notifications targeting minors, implement default privacy and usage settings including barred late-night notifications, display mental health warning pop-ups to minor users, and submit annual reports on minor user data to the state. AI chat bot operators must provide disclosures that users are communicating with AI, implement self-harm detection protocols, and restrict minor access to bots offering mental health services. Employers using automated decision technology must disclose such use in employment decisions and note AI-related layoffs in state notifications.
In-house legal teams at social media platforms, AI chat bot operators, and employers using automated decision tools should review customer terms of service, vendor agreements for AI tools, and employment contracts to ensure compliance with the new Connecticut legislation. Social media companies must update privacy policies and user agreements to include parental consent requirements for algorithmic content targeting minors, default privacy and usage settings for minor accounts, and mandatory mental health warning pop-ups. AI operators should add clauses requiring clear disclosures of AI interaction, self-harm detection protocols, and restrictions on minor access to mental health-related bots in their terms of service and vendor contracts. Employers must include disclosure clauses in employment agreements and vendor contracts for AI hiring tools, noting the use of automated decision technology in employment decisions and layoff notifications. All covered entities should review reporting obligations to ensure vendor agreements require provision of data needed for annual state reporting on minor users.
Entity
Office of the Attorney General William Tong
Industry
OtherOfficial Press Release
https://portal.ct.gov/ag/press-releases/2026-press-releases/statement-on-final-passage-of-legislation-to-combat-youth-social-media-addiction
office of the attorney general ai advisory.pdf?rev=1b393e0f5
https://portal.ct.gov/-/media/ag/press_releases/2026/office-of-the-attorney-general---ai-advisory.pdf?rev=1b393e0f5a2e4eccb19642e4520773bd&hash=0EB1AB8FF586C129315C292974C9A27A
Connecticut Attorney General Enforcement Page
https://portal.ct.gov/AG/Privacy/Privacy-Resources
"Office of the Attorney General William Tong"
"05/01/2026"
"Connecticut"
"final passage of state legislation"
"prohibit social media companies from exposing minors to harmful and addictive algorithms and notifications without parental consent"
"disclosure requirements related to use of automated decision technology in employment decisions"
$625K
Connecticut reached a $625,000 settlement with Frontier Communications Parent Inc. over an April 2024 breach in which compromised employee and vendor credentials were used to access internal systems and exfiltrate unencrypted personal information of 58,841 Connecticut residents. The settlement requires Frontier to strengthen its security program, implement specific safeguards and training, and obtain an independent third-party assessment.
$2.6M
Connecticut and New York found that Boston Children’s Health Physicians and its security vendor, XTIUM, failed to use reasonable safeguards, resulting in hackers accessing sensitive personal, medical, and employee information. The companies agreed to pay penalties totaling $2.64 million and implement enhanced cybersecurity measures.
Connecticut joined a coalition of state attorneys general filing a notice in Character Technologies, Inc.’s bankruptcy proceedings, raising concerns about the company’s safety and privacy practices and the sensitive information it holds. The states seek protections for children and consumers if the company’s business or assets are sold or transferred; the filing does not impose a fine or other remedy.
Attorney General William Tong and Consumer Counsel Claire Coleman petitioned PURA to review how Connecticut public utilities use artificial intelligence, citing potential data privacy and cybersecurity risks, algorithmic errors, and misleading outputs. The petition asks PURA to examine utility AI systems, safeguards, vendors, and data security practices; it does not report a finding of violation or an imposed penalty.
$2.0M
Connecticut Attorney General William Tong announced a settlement with RZ Smoke, Inc. over allegations that it distributed and sold high-potency cannabis products without a state license. The stipulated judgment is $2 million, with $375,000 payable to the State and $1.6 million suspended to ensure compliance; the company is barred from specified cannabis activities in Connecticut unless licensed.
$13.7M
Connecticut joined a coalition of states and the federal government in settling allegations that Takeda paid healthcare providers speaker honoraria and provided meals to induce prescriptions of Trintellix, leading to allegedly false claims to government healthcare programs. Takeda agreed to pay $13,670,921 plus accrued interest, with portions allocated to federal and state programs.