Connecticut Attorney General William Tong issued a statement on May 1, 2026, announcing the final passage of bipartisan legislation targeting youth social media addiction and artificial intelligence harms. The legislation imposes new obligations on social media companies regarding minor account settings, parental consent, and reporting, as well as requirements for AI chatbot operators and employers using automated decision tools. The statement also references ongoing enforcement actions against Meta and TikTok for allegedly designing addictive platform features for youth.
Social media companies must implement default privacy, time-of-use, and notification settings for minor accounts, require parental consent to alter defaults or use addictive algorithms, display mental health warning labels to minors, and submit annual reports to the state detailing minor user data. AI chatbot operators must disclose AI interactions to users, implement self-harm detection protocols, and restrict minor access to bots capable of encouraging self-harm or providing mental health services. Employers using automated decision tools must disclose AI use in employment decisions, note AI-related workforce reductions in layoff notifications, and comply with state study and planning requirements for AI employment impacts.
In-house legal teams at social media platforms, AI chatbot operators, and employers utilizing automated decision tools should review customer, vendor, and employment agreements for compliance with Connecticut’s new legislation. Social media companies must update minor account terms, privacy policies, and data processing agreements to include parental consent clauses for altering default settings or deploying addictive algorithms, incorporate required mental health warning labels, and align data collection practices with new annual reporting obligations. AI chatbot operators should revise service agreements to mandate AI interaction disclosures, self-harm detection protocols, and minor access restrictions. Employers using automated employment decision tools must update employee agreements and vendor contracts to include required AI use disclosures, and modify layoff notification clauses to explicitly note AI-related workforce reductions as required by the new law.
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social media companies
Industry
Social MediaOfficial 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
"Attorney General Tong Statement on Final Passage of Legislation to Combat Youth Social Media Addiction and Artificial Intelligence Harms"
"05/01/2026"
"Connecticut"
"final passage of state legislation"
"social media companies"
"exposing minors to harmful and addictive algorithms and notifications without parental consent"
$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.