Sen. Gounardes’ Proposal to Protect Kids Online Included in State Budget

 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: MAY 26, 2026

New York State Senator Andrew Gounardes issued the following statement in response to the inclusion of the Safe By Design Act (aka the Stop Online Predators Act) in the state budget:

“For far too long, Big Tech turned a blind eye while social media and gaming platforms became hotbeds of child exploitation and abuse. The truth is, they’ve been more concerned about profits than kids’ safety. 

“Since they wouldn’t act, we did. With my Stop Online Predators Act, gaming and social companies will have to implement real privacy protections and meaningful safeguards so their platforms are no longer a place for rampant grooming of children. Parents shouldn’t have to worry that their kids are being targeted by predators while they play video games with their friends online. As a father of young children, I know the stakes are high. Today, we’re taking a step toward a safer, better internet for all New Yorkers.”

Background: 

The enacted budget includes a version of Senator Gounardes Stop Online Predators Act (S4609A/A6549A - also known as the Safe By Design Act), which establishes safety and design standards for social media and online platforms to protect minors. Default privacy settings will be mandated to restrict unknown adults from communicating with minors, including prohibitions on platforms recommending profiles of minors to other users, limits on financial transactions, and other safeguards. The budget also limits AI companions by default and establishes enforcement authority by the New York State Attorney General. 

Numerous lawsuits, investigations, and public reports have alleged that online platforms have failed to protect children from harmful and exploitative online environments. Roblox, in particular, has emerged as an epicenter of abuse—the site reported over 13,000 instances of child exploitation in 2023 alone, and responded to 1,300 requests for information from law enforcement. One research firm described the site as “an X-rated pedophile hellscape, exposing children to grooming, pornography, violent content and extremely abusive speech.” Roblox faces lawsuits from several states and has paid multimillion-dollar settlements to others.

This legislation builds on other landmark online safety initiatives from Senator Gounardes, including the SAFE for Kids Act, the Child Data Protection Act, and social media warning label requirements.

Press Contact:

Billy Richling

Communications Director

State Senator Andrew Gounardes

billy@senatorgounardes.nyc

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