Latest news with #SenateBill165
Yahoo
24-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
‘Internet Safety:' Georgia lawmakers move to ban youth from social media
Georgia lawmakers want to make it illegal for anyone under the age of 14 to use social media in the name of internet safety. Senate Bill 165 would ban minors from social media and allow for parents to request social media platforms terminate the accounts of their children. More specifically, SB 165 would set up two mechanisms to keep Georgia youth offline, at least when it comes to social media platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, Facebook and others. The bill would require social media companies to refuse account services to those who are 14 or 15 unless their parents have provided consent for them to create accounts. SB 165 also requires the companies to refuse account services to anyone younger than 14 years old and would enable parents to have their children's social accounts deleted at their request. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] TRENDING STORIES: Georgia 'DOGE' bill gets vote in state senate, faces pushback from Democrats Delta flight reports 'haze' in cabin, returns back to Atlanta airport Gwinnett Schools not moving forward with clear backpacks, looking to add weapon detectors The bill also creates an option for parents to have their minors' personal data be deleted, increases the fine levels to cap at $50,000 per violation of the bill and create multiple ways for parents to contact social media companies to initiate any enforcement actions, regarding their children's accounts online. When parents request an account for their child be terminated, companies would have to do so within 10 days of the request, or risk fines. However, account holders are allowed to dispute the termination within 90 days of it being inititated. The bill also creates a way for teens themselves to request their accounts be terminated, and businesses must comply within five days. If an account is terminated, all personal data and information held by the company related to it must also be deleted. Social media companies must also provide parents or guardians with a list and description of features they provide to censor or moderate content on their platforms, and what features can be disabled or modified, at the request of the parents or guardians. The Georgia Attorney General will also be able to initiate enforcement actions against companies that violate the bill's provisions, if passed, including seeking damages for up to $50,000 and court costs, including reasonable attorney's fees, for each violation. Those who file a claim against a company can sue for up to $10,000 in damages. Civil actions for these claims can be brought within a year of when the person suing was aware of the violation and may only be brought on behalf of a minor account holder. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
Yahoo
19-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Lexington makes changes to diversity, equity and inclusion office as DEI attacks ramp up
The city of Lexington is giving its Officer of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion a new role as attacks on diversity, equity and inclusion ramp up. Arthur Lucas, who has served in the position for several years, will continue to work on diversity efforts but through the human resources department, said Sally Hamilton, the city's chief administrative officer. Lucas currently works out of Hamilton's office. When Lucas was hired, there was debate on whether he should be placed in Hamilton's office or with human resources. Because his work is across city government it would be better if he was in human resources so his duties can also be expanded, Hamilton said. His title will be changed to a senior administrator to better reflect the breadth of his duties, she said. The Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council took its first vote on the title change at a Tuesday work session. A final vote will likely come at its March 6 meeting. Lucas helps the city with a lot of different initiatives. In hiring, the city doesn't give additional weight to someone who is diverse. Rather, the city makes sure everyone has the same opportunities, Hamilton said. 'For example, when we have interview panels we make sure that everyone on that panel is not all the same type of person,' Hamilton said. Employers often hire people who look like them, Hamilton said. Hamilton said the city is not making other major changes in light of federal and state efforts to eliminate DEI initiatives. The University of Kentucky also voluntarily eliminated its Office of Institutional Diversity in August 2024 in light of efforts to ax DEI offices. In one of his first acts in office, President Donald Trump signed an executive order dismantling all federal DEI offices. State legislators also have proposed bills in the Kentucky House and Senate that target DEI efforts in state universities and in local government. Senate Bill 164, filed Thursday by Sen. Lindsey Tichenor, R-Smithfield, would block all levels of government from 'providing preferential treatment' to individuals or groups based on race, sex, color, or national origin. It also would prohibit state and local government agencies from 'requiring or incentivizing' a person to attend a DEI training, or from allocating resources to 'establish or maintain diversity, equity and inclusion offices.' Senate Bill 165, also filed by Tichenor, would prohibit similar DEI initiatives in Kentucky public schools. A similar bill targeting DEI in public schools has been filed in the House. Efforts to pass anti-DEI legislation have so far failed in the Republican-controlled General Assembly.
