Lawmakers in the Georgia State Senate have introduced two bipartisan bills designed to strengthen online protections for children.
The legislation follows months of study by the Senate Study Committee on the Impact of Social Media and Artificial Intelligence on Children and Platform Privacy Protection, which met throughout fall 2025. The committee heard testimony from parents, educators, law enforcement, and technology experts before recommending stronger safeguards for minors.
Senate Bill 495, filed by Sally Harrell, would limit certain design features considered harmful, reduce excessive data collection, and require stronger default privacy settings for minors. The bill would also give children and parents more control over personal data and require companies to evaluate risks linked to compulsive-use features, while increasing transparency about how algorithms operate.
A second measure, Senate Bill 488, was filed by Ed Setzler. The proposal would classify generative artificial intelligence systems as products under Georgia law. Supporters say that change would allow children harmed by those systems to pursue product-liability claims.
Most provisions in both bills would take effect January 1, 2027, if approved.
Senate Bill 495 has been assigned to the Senate Committee on Children and Families, while Senate Bill 488 is awaiting consideration in the Senate Committee on Judiciary.