2025 tech recap: Social media and AI regulation
This WSHU recap says 2025 brought major momentum for efforts to regulate social media and artificial intelligence, with advocates in Connecticut and New York helping drive national attention. It frames the debate as a tension between stronger restrictions to protect people, especially children, and concern that new rules could slow innovation.
On social media, the piece notes ongoing bills and lawsuits aimed at protecting minors and increasing accountability for platforms. In Connecticut, it highlights a new crime for distributing synthetically created revenge porn, aimed at generative AI deepfake abuse, and also points to a new data privacy law that strengthens consumer protections and addresses issues like junk fees, price gouging, and certain forms of device based pricing.
On AI, it focuses on growing concern about chatbots interacting with children and teenagers, including reports from parents about exposure to sexual and suicide related content and cases involving youth suicide. It says New York passed a law requiring strict safety measures for AI chatbots, while Connecticut lawmakers have debated harms and bipartisan proposals have gone further, including the proposed GUARD Act that would require age verification and clear disclosure that the user is not talking to a human.
At the federal level, the article describes repeated attempts to block state and local AI regulation, including proposals for a ten year moratorium that were ultimately removed after strong opposition. It also reports that President Donald Trump issued a December executive order directing agencies to identify state AI regulations and signaling possible federal pressure through funding threats or court challenges.
