New York Governor Kathy Hawkle (Democrat) is reportedly planning to introduce a bill to ban smartphones in schools.
Governor Hawke said he will pass the bill later this year and have it before New York’s next legislative session in January 2025. report By Guardian.
The bill would allow elementary school students to have basic cell phones and send text messages to their parents or guardians in the event of a mass shooting, but would prohibit them from accessing the Internet.
“Parents are very concerned about a school shooting,” Gov. Hockle said. “They want some form of communication in the event of an emergency.”
The governor also said smartphones have “addictive algorithms” that “draw in young people, literally capture them, and hold them prisoner in spaces that are removed from relationships, social interactions and normal classroom activities.”
Governor Hawkle is also reportedly working on two other initiatives related to child safety and privacy, the “Children’s (Safe) Addictive Feeds Exploitation Prevention Act” and the “New York State Children’s Data Protection Act.”
The SAFE for Kids Act would require social media platforms to provide minors with a default chronological feed made up of the accounts they choose to follow, rather than accounts suggested by an algorithm, and would mandate platforms to give parents more control.
If the bill passes, social media companies that violate the law could be fined $5,000 per violation and parents could sue for damages.
Meanwhile, the New York State Children’s Data Protection Act seeks to limit the ability of online sites to collect children’s personal data.
Large technology companies, industry groups and other businesses reportedly spent more than $800,000 collectively lobbying against one or both bills between October and March, according to public records.
you can Follow Alana Mastrangelo Facebook And X is Follow,and Instagram.
