by Matthew Holloway | May 22, 2025 | News
By Matthew Holloway |
A bill designed to shield Arizona’s children from inappropriate and mature advertisements on digital applications was signed into law on Tuesday.
Under the new law, “A child-directed application shall take appropriate measures to prevent the display of inappropriate and mature advertisements on the child-directed application.” It describes “inappropriate and mature advertisements,” as “an advertisement that sells or promotes any of the following: (a) violence, (b) explicit language, (c) sexual content, (d) alcohol or drug use.”
Rep. Julie Willoughby, who sponsored the law, explained, “As a mom and a legislator, I know how easily harmful content slips into apps that claim to be kid-friendly. Parents should be able to trust that their children won’t be bombarded with adult-themed ads. This law compels Big Tech to clean it up or face serious penalties.”
If the application owners targeting children 11 and younger fail to take meaningful measures to prevent the display of “inappropriate and mature advertisements,” they could face civil penalties of up to $100,000 per violation effective January 1, 2026. With the proliferation of child-facing applications and their wide adoption base, the potential civil liability for application-makers could be catastrophic.
The bill enjoyed rare bipartisan cooperation in the Arizona legislature, passing the House 48-11 with one member not voting, passing the Senate 16-9 with five Senators not voting, and finally getting signed into law by Arizona’s veto-prone Democrat Governor Katie Hobbs.
The new law is an advance along the trajectory laid out by the House Republican Majority Plan, designed to promote the safety of the youngest Arizonans while protecting parental rights by bringing “greater transparency and accountability to the digital platforms children use every day.”
Matthew Holloway is a senior reporter for AZ Free News. Follow him on X for his latest stories, or email tips to Matthew@azfreenews.com.
by Daniel Stefanski | Feb 23, 2025 | News
By Daniel Stefanski |
Arizona legislators continue to be proactive in passing legislation that would protect children around the state.
Last week, the Arizona House Commerce Committee approved HB 2195, which would “prevent children from being exposed to inappropriate and mature advertisements on apps marketed for kids [by] hold[ing] digital platforms accountable by requiring monitoring systems to block harmful content and enforce[ing] penalties for violations.”
In a statement that accompanied the announcement of the bills’ progress, House Majority Whip Julie Willoughby, the sponsor of the legislation, said, “As a mother, I’ve seen firsthand how apps labeled as ‘child-friendly’ can still display advertisements that are entirely inappropriate for kids. In fact, some of these ads can be disturbing and should have no place in a child’s digital experience. This bill ensures that children can safely use digital spaces without being targeted with content that doesn’t belong in their world. I’m proud to sponsor legislation that will keep kids safe online and ensure that digital platforms uphold appropriate standards. HB 2195 protects kids, supports parents, and makes sure Arizona families come first.”
Representative Willoughby added, “Parents shouldn’t have to constantly shield their children from harmful content on apps designed for kids. Arizona is stepping up where tech giants have failed, and we’re making sure these companies face real consequences when they violate that trust.”
According to the press release shared by the Arizona House Republicans, key provisions of the legislative proposal include the following:
- “Upholds rights of Arizona parents to protect their children.
- “Prohibits inappropriate and mature advertisements on child-directed apps.
- “Requires platforms to implement monitoring systems.
- “Imposes penalties of up to $10,000 per violation.”
The bill passed out of the House Commerce Committee with a party-line 6-3 vote. All six Republicans voted in favor of the legislation, while all three Democrats were opposed.
On the Arizona Legislature’s Request to Speak system, a representative from the American Academy of Pediatrics – Arizona Chapter signed in to support the bill. A representative from the American Civil Liberties Union of Arizona signed in to oppose the proposal.
HB 2195 will now face an up-or-down vote from the full Arizona House of Representatives in the near future.
Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
