Australia

• Online Safety Bill
• Online Safety Amendment Bill 2024 (Establishes a minimum age (16) for social media use and an obligation on providers of an age-restricted social media platform to take reasonable steps to prevent age-restricted users from having an account with the platform.)
• OSB Explainer
• Illegal online content definitions
• How will Australia’s new Online Safety Act affect online community managers? (Webinar)

See also: Online Safety Act 2021 (Australia)

Canada

• PIPEDA in brief – Data privacy
• Reading The Online Harms Act With My Fediverse Admin Hat On – (Robert W. Gehl)

European Union

Of note, these regulations apply to any service that has users within the EU

• EEA GDPR basics
  • GDPR applies to “a company or entity which processes personal data as part of the activities of one of its branches established in the EU, regardless of where the data is processed; or a company established outside the EU and is offering goods/services (paid or for free) or is monitoring the behaviour of individuals in the EU.“
• Digital Services Act
  • “All online intermediaries offering their services in the single market, whether they are established in the EU or outside, will have to comply with the new rules. Micro and small companies will have obligations proportionate to their ability and size while ensuring they remain accountable.“

In addition, France requires parental consent for minors (under 15) to create social media accounts; Germany allows minors 13-15 with parental consent; Belgium requires parental consent under 13; Italy for under 14.

See also: DSA Guide for the Fediverse, GDPR

New Zealand

• Harmful Digital Communications Act
• EFF review of HDCA 2015

United Kingdom

To include England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales.

• Online Safety Act (Ofcom)
  • Applies to any service “with a significant number of United Kingdom users, or which target UK users, or those which are capable of being used in the United Kingdom where there are reasonable grounds to believe that there is a material risk of significant harm.“
  • See also Protection of Children Code
• Overview of UK website accessibility laws

See also: Online Safety Act 2023 (UK), Navigating the UK Online Safety Act

United States

Of note, providers may be subject to DMCA (copyright violations), COPPA (parental consent for members under 13) and 18 USC §2258A (requirement to report CSAM), FOSTA/SESTA (sex trafficking/sex workers), CalOPPA (California-specific privacy protections), Stored Communications Act (non-disclosure of private communications), ADA (Web accessibility)

Federal (National)

• FAQ on Section 230 protections
  • What is SESTA /FOSTA?
• Overview of protections for service providers blocking objectionable content
• DMCA FAQ
  • DMCA Agent registration
• CSAM reporting requirements
• COPPA guidance
• Take It Down Act summary and recommendation
• Web content accessibility requirements

State

Arkansas

• Distribution of Harmful Material Act
• Social Media Safety Act

California

• California Online Privacy Protection Act (CalOPPA)
• Commercial Sexual Exploitation: Child Sexual Abuse
• Social Media Platforms: Drug Safety Policies

Florida

• CS/CS/HB 3 Online Protections for Minors 2024 (currently blocked) banning social media accounts for children under 14 and requiring parental consent for those aged 14 and 15.

Louisiana

• Secure Online Child Interaction and Age Limitation Act

Mississippi

• Pornographic Media Exposure to Children

Utah

• H.B. 464 Social Media Amendments holds social media companies responsible for mental health problems they cause through the design of their platforms.
• S.B. 194 Social Media Regulation Amendments blocks harmful and addictive product features on social media, protects minors’ privacy, and gives parents the tools and resources they need to keep their children safe.