During her “State of the State” address on Tuesday, Governor Kathy Hochul advocated for new privacy laws to safeguard children from online predators, implement age verification on gaming platforms, and prevent youth from developing gambling habits. These proposed measures are an extension of Hochul’s existing initiatives, such as banning phones in schools and regulating addictive apps like TikTok and Instagram.

Hochul emphasized the importance of blocking direct messages from potential predators, disabling AI chat bots that could harm mental health, and preventing location sharing to protect children. The proposed legislation, championed by state Sen. Andrew Gounardes and Assemblywoman Nily Rozic, reflects Hochul’s ongoing efforts to address issues relating to big tech.

One emerging concern highlighted by Hochul is underage online sports betting, which she aims to tackle by restricting access to betting apps and accounts for minors. She plans to collaborate with the state’s Gaming Commission to explore strategies like biometric technology (such as fingerprint scanners and face recognition) to deter illegal gambling activities among young people.

State Senator Joe Addabbo expressed support for Hochul’s initiatives, particularly regarding online sports gaming regulation. Hochul humorously referred to her anti-phone mascot “Frankie Focus” and praised the positive impact of her child protection policies on school environments.

Assemblywoman Carrie Woerner commended Hochul for taking a decisive stance on these issues, noting the escalating problem of gambling addiction across various age demographics due to the proliferation of online gaming platforms.