A coalition of 44 attorneys general, led by Connecticut AG William Tong, urged TikTok and Snapchat to implement parental control apps to help parents monitor their children's social media usage and protect them from online harms such as bullying, self-harm, and exposure to inappropriate content. The attorneys general highlighted research showing high rates of teens encountering nudity, drug-related content, violence, and bullying on these platforms. They argue that parental control apps can alert parents to dangerous situations and save lives.
In-house legal teams should review Terms of Service, Privacy Policies, and any Child Safety Addendums or Data Processing Addendums with minor users. Focus on clauses governing user safety features, parental control capabilities, age verification methods, content moderation policies for harmful material (bullying, self-harm, nudity), data collection from minors, and third-party app integrations. Potential changes include mandating integrated parental control options (e.g., activity monitoring, content filtering), enhancing age assurance systems, improving transparency reporting on harmful content exposure, and establishing clear, accessible reporting pathways for minors and parents.
Entity
TikTok and Snapchat
Also known as: TikTok, Snapchat
Industry
Social MediaOfficial Press Release
https://portal.ct.gov/ag/press-releases/2022-press-releases/attorney-general-tong-urges-tik-tok-and-snapchat-to-give-parents-more-control
naag parental control final letter.pdf?rev=28c5376cbd104accb
https://portal.ct.gov/-/media/ag/press_releases/2021/naag---parental-control-final-letter.pdf?rev=28c5376cbd104accbfbc13a75ea32e7a&hash=9D7358D752C5AEE5E6F5F17B53B000FE
Connecticut Attorney General Enforcement Page
https://portal.ct.gov/AG/Privacy/Privacy-Resources
$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.