The New York Civil Liberties Union (NYCLU) submitted the following testimony before the Committees on Children and Youth, Mental Health and Substance Use, and Oversight and Investigations. The NYCLU has deep concerns with Intros. 660 and 450, and we encourage the committees to reject them. Intro. 660 would force providers of critical youth services to surveil the young people they work with rather than focus on developing the trusting relationships that are the foundation for impactful youth programs. While the intent to address potential negative impacts of social media on young people’s well-being is well intentioned, Intro. 450 sweeps with far too broad a brush and raises First Amendment concerns.
