Connecticut Attorney General William Tong issued a statement on May 1, 2026, following final passage of bipartisan legislation to combat youth social media addiction and regulate artificial intelligence harms. The legislation imposes new requirements on social media companies regarding minor users, including parental consent for addictive algorithms, default privacy settings, and annual reporting obligations. It also establishes rules for AI chat bots and automated employment decision tools, including disclosure requirements and self-harm detection protocols.
The legislation requires social media companies to obtain parental consent for addictive algorithms and notifications targeting minors, implement default privacy and usage settings including barred late-night notifications, display mental health warning pop-ups to minor users, and submit annual reports on minor user data to the state. AI chat bot operators must provide disclosures that users are communicating with AI, implement self-harm detection protocols, and restrict minor access to bots offering mental health services. Employers using automated decision technology must disclose such use in employment decisions and note AI-related layoffs in state notifications.
In-house legal teams at social media platforms, AI chat bot operators, and employers using automated decision tools should review customer terms of service, vendor agreements for AI tools, and employment contracts to ensure compliance with the new Connecticut legislation. Social media companies must update privacy policies and user agreements to include parental consent requirements for algorithmic content targeting minors, default privacy and usage settings for minor accounts, and mandatory mental health warning pop-ups. AI operators should add clauses requiring clear disclosures of AI interaction, self-harm detection protocols, and restrictions on minor access to mental health-related bots in their terms of service and vendor contracts. Employers must include disclosure clauses in employment agreements and vendor contracts for AI hiring tools, noting the use of automated decision technology in employment decisions and layoff notifications. All covered entities should review reporting obligations to ensure vendor agreements require provision of data needed for annual state reporting on minor users.
Entity
Office of the Attorney General William Tong
Industry
OtherOfficial Press Release
https://portal.ct.gov/ag/press-releases/2026-press-releases/statement-on-final-passage-of-legislation-to-combat-youth-social-media-addiction
office of the attorney general ai advisory.pdf?rev=1b393e0f5
https://portal.ct.gov/-/media/ag/press_releases/2026/office-of-the-attorney-general---ai-advisory.pdf?rev=1b393e0f5a2e4eccb19642e4520773bd&hash=0EB1AB8FF586C129315C292974C9A27A
Connecticut Attorney General Enforcement Page
https://portal.ct.gov/AG/Privacy/Privacy-Resources
"Office of the Attorney General William Tong"
"05/01/2026"
"Connecticut"
"final passage of state legislation"
"prohibit social media companies from exposing minors to harmful and addictive algorithms and notifications without parental consent"
"disclosure requirements related to use of automated decision technology in employment decisions"
Connecticut Attorney General William Tong joined a multistate coalition suing the EPA over its repeal of greenhouse gas pollution limits for power plants and separately filed a notice of intent to sue over regulation of existing gas plants. The coalition asks the court to overturn the repeal and restore the protections; the release reports no monetary penalty or final order.
$400.0M
Connecticut Attorney General William Tong announced a $400 million settlement with Sandoz Inc. and Fougera Pharmaceuticals Inc. resolving allegations that the generic drug manufacturers conspired to inflate prices, limit competition, and restrain trade. The settlement includes consumer restitution and injunctive reforms; court approval was being sought.
Connecticut Attorney General William Tong joined a coalition of 21 attorneys general in submitting a comment letter opposing a DHS rule that allows certain affirmative asylum applications to be referred to removal proceedings without an asylum officer interview. The coalition argues the rule violates federal law and harms asylum seekers, including unaccompanied children; this was a policy opposition letter, not a privacy enforcement action.
Connecticut and Massachusetts co-led a coalition protest urging FERC to reject the proposed NextEra Energy-Dominion Energy merger. The coalition argued that the merger could increase market power and threaten energy affordability, reliability, and competition; the release does not report a final enforcement decision or penalty.
Connecticut officials warned residents about potential home improvement scams before an approaching nor’easter, including unlicensed contractors, high-pressure sales tactics, and demands for full payment upfront. The release provides consumer guidance on checking contractors and contract requirements; it does not announce an enforcement action or penalty against a named entity.
Connecticut Attorney General William Tong joined a coalition of 22 attorneys general and Pennsylvania’s governor in a letter urging HHS to keep federal vaccine recommendations grounded in scientific and medical evidence. The letter asks HHS to preserve the ACIP’s role and current vaccine recommendation categories; it is a policy advocacy action, not a privacy enforcement action.