Albany, NY – In response to the rapid rise of artificial intelligence (AI) and the ever-evolving social media landscape, New York State has enacted a sweeping package of legislation designed to protect New Yorkers from the societal challenges posed by innovative digital technologies. These new laws affirm the State’s commitment to
strengthening online safety, protecting children on social media, and combating deepfakes and AI-generated propaganda. “As AI and social media continue to reshape our daily lives, we must continue to demand safety, transparency, and accountability to ensure our most vulnerable users, our children and adolescents, are protected from online harms and manipulative technologies,” Buttenschon said. “Together, these comprehensive measures serve to further prevent AI and social media platforms from continuing to knowingly exploit and expose their users to online information and behaviors they know to be harmful
in the real world.”
While AI has the potential to deliver groundbreaking improvements throughout numerous aspects of our society, artificial intelligence also has the potential to be employed by bad actors, who may use AI to conduct devastating cyberattacks and aid in the production of dangerous weapons, including but not limited to unregistered 3-D printed firearms and biological weapons. Heeding growing calls from industry experts to address these threats, the Responsible Artificial Intelligence Safety and Education (RAISE) Act, established comprehensive safety standards for AI frontier models and implemented vital security safeguards to prevent and disclose unreasonable risks of critical harm. In addition, to further combat harmful commercial use of AI generated deepfake images, legislation
enacted last year requires commercial advertisements to clearly label their use of AI, with civil penalties of up to $5,000 for the failure to properly label a deepfake (Ch. 617 of 2025).
To further strengthen the State’s online safety efforts, social media platforms that employ infinite scroll or other addictive design features will be required to display warning labels across their platforms (Ch. 689 of 2025 and Ch. 85 of 2026). This measure aims to increase user awareness of potentially harmful platform design choices. Furthermore, another law enacted last year, Ch. 58 of 2025, requires AI companions to alert users that they are not communicating with a human, and monitor user activity to detect when users express behaviors related to self-harm. The law further requires AI companion services to direct users in crisis to mental health services, and establishes a dedicated suicide prevention fund to expand statewide access to mental health resources.
The passage of these vital laws has led New York State to be ranked #1 in the country for keeping children safe online*. As technology continues to advance, New York remains committed to staying vigilant in protecting all New Yorkers from harm online.
*https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/governor-hochul-announces-new-york-state-received-highest-nation-ranking-technology-laws
About Assemblywoman Marianne Buttenschon:
Assemblywoman Buttenschon represents the 119th District, encompassing the cities of Utica and Rome as well as surrounding towns and farming communities. A lifelong educator, public safety advocate, and small business supporter, she proudly serves on the Assembly’s Agriculture, Banks, Economic Development, Education, Higher Education, and Veterans Affairs Committees and chairs the Committee on Small Businesses. Her work is driven by transparency, accountability, and a commitment to strengthening the Mohawk Valley’s future.
