RESET Act

The RESET Act bans covered online platforms from allowing an individual to create or keep an account or profile if the platform knows the person is under 16 years old. "Knows" means the platform has actual knowledge or acts in willful disregard of the user’s age. Platforms must review their users and, within 60 days after the law takes effect, identify accounts they know belong to minors. Within 180 days, they must notify those users that their accounts will be terminated, and within 30 days after giving that notice, they must close the accounts. When a minor’s account is terminated, the platform must immediately delete all personal data collected from or submitted by that user. For 90 days after termination, the platform must, if technically possible and not blocked by licensing agreements, provide the minor with a copy of their personal data if the minor asks. This copy must be easy to read and also provided in a portable, structured, machine‑readable format. The platform has 45 days to respond to such a request. A violation of these rules is treated as an unfair or deceptive act or practice under the Federal Trade Commission Act. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has its usual powers to investigate and enforce and can seek penalties and other remedies. State attorneys general and certain state officials may also sue in state or federal court to stop violations, enforce the law, and seek money relief for residents, after notifying the FTC. If the FTC or U.S. Attorney General has already filed a federal case on the same violations against the same defendant, new state actions on those same alleged violations must wait until that federal case is finished. The bill blocks states and local governments from having or enforcing their own laws that relate to this section’s rules, meaning these federal rules would override any similar state rules. The act defines key terms, including “minor” (under age 16), “personal data” (using the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act definition), “covered platform” (by reference to the TAKE IT DOWN Act), and “user.” Unless a part of the section says otherwise, the law would start to apply one year after enactment.