RESET Act / GUARDIAN Act
United StatesHigh threat- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- Became Law
Stage 1 of 4: Introduced
Amended in subcommittee to require parental consent for processing under-16s' data, raising concerns about age checks and online privacy.
Latest update
Subcommittee adopted the GUARDIAN substitute and advanced H.R.6488 as amended to full committee by voice vote
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Take action on this issueContact LawmakersWhat it does
The GUARDIAN substitute, adopted September 1, replaces the original RESET blanket account ban with parental consent for processing covered under-16s' personal data. Platforms must account for users they know or should have known are minors. It permits age determination with notice, security and deletion safeguards. Consent withdrawal triggers account termination. The FTC and states enforce the proposal.
What’s at stake
Making platforms responsible for identifying minors creates pressure to assess users' ages. Linking their participation to parental permission can restrict access to lawful expression. The substitute includes data safeguards and excludes liability based on speech content or viewpoint.
Our take
We oppose the amended proposal's pressure toward age checks and parental permission for online participation. The adopted substitute changes the mechanism substantially; the original blanket under-16 ban is no longer the operative subcommittee text.
Timeline
Subcommittee adopted the GUARDIAN substitute and advanced H.R.6488 as amended to full committee by voice voteLatest
Introduced
Referred to committee
Sponsor
Erin Houchin (R-IN)
Cosponsors (2)
Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), Lance Gooden (R-TX)
Committee
Energy and Commerce Committee
Votes
- House subcommittee — GUARDIAN substitute adopted; H.R.6488 advanced as amended to full committee. Both agreed by voice vote. · September 1, 2026 — see every vote
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