1. United States
  2. N.Y.
  3. Letter

Repeal the SAFE for Kids Act Before It Takes Effect

To: Gov. Hochul, Assembly Member Magnarelli, Sen. May

From: A verified voter in Syracuse, NY

July 29

Repeal the SAFE for Kids Act before its January 25th, 2027 implementation date. This law, signed by Governor Hochul in June 2024, forces social media platforms to verify every user's age before granting access to algorithmically curated feeds — a sweeping requirement that will compromise the privacy of millions of New Yorkers, not just minors. The verification system demands that platforms detect circumvention attempts 98% of the time, which in practice means collecting sensitive identity documents from adults who have done nothing wrong. Even with the deletion requirement, mandating that New Yorkers hand over government-issued ID just to scroll a feed sets a dangerous precedent. The $5,000-per-violation penalty structure will push platforms toward the most invasive verification methods possible to avoid liability. Protecting kids online is a legitimate goal, but this law trades the privacy of every user to achieve it. There are better approaches that don't require building a surveillance infrastructure around routine internet use. Repeal it now, before it becomes the new baseline.

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