AG Ellison released a report detailing the harmful effects that emerging technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) and social media are having on young Minnesotans. The report examines the harms these technologies cause, analyzes the specific design features causing those harms, evaluates previous legislative efforts to correct these issues, and provides policy recommendations for the Minnesota legislature that will curb these harms and improve the well-being of young Minnesotans.
"I am deeply concerned that our society is failing young people by not taking strong enough action to protect them from manipulation, exploitation, and bullying online. No parent in Minnesota would willingly sign their child up to be a guinea pig for tech companies testing new, powerful, and dangerous technologies, yet that is exactly what has been happening with developments in social media and artificial intelligence. We must continue to establish reasonable guardrails to protect young people online and prevent tech companies from sacrificing the well-being of children and teenagers just to turn a profit. Young Minnesotans deserve far better.” – AG Ellison