Arlington, VA – The American Consumer Institute (ACI) urges Washington lawmakers to reconsider their proposed addictive feed legislation, citing vague definitions, inconclusive research, privacy risks, and legal uncertainties.
The bill broadly defines an “addictive feed” without relying on traditional indicators of addiction, raising concerns about its scientific validity and potential overreach. ACI highlights that content recommendation systems, such as those used by Yelp, could inadvertently fall under the law’s scope.
ACI also warns that requiring parental consent could lead to heightened privacy risks, as platforms may be forced to collect more sensitive user data for age verification. Additionally, similar legislation in California has faced significant legal challenges, suggesting Washington’s bill may also struggle to withstand judicial scrutiny.
Given these concerns, ACI recommends that Washington lawmakers pause further debate until more conclusive evidence emerges and legal challenges in other states are resolved.
Read the full letter below.