For the Fall 2022 semester, our POSC 395 Policy Research Internship students conducted a comprehensive review of online privacy and security measures regarding minors. Students analyzed previous state and federal efforts, other regulatory bodies around the world, and nonprofit organizations. They presented their extensive research and recommendations to our partner, California State Senator Ben Allen’s Office (D-CA). Senator Ben Allen represents the 24th Senate District serving the Westside, Hollywood, South Bay, and Santa Monica Mountains communities of Los Angeles County.

Ella Noravian, a senior majoring in Law, History, and Culture, said this about her research experience: “I had the absolute pleasure of working with a wonderful team of students and faculty advisors on collaborative research for California State Senator Ben Allen. As a team, we researched the issue of what regulations can be implemented at the state level in California to protect children’s privacy on the internet. I focused on how private companies, such as social media platforms and their respective privacy policies, play a role in the legal rights children are afforded online. I delved into the world of public policy, lawsuits, and federal trade commission fines to study the relationship between legal action and the evolvement of data collection policies. We created policy recommendations that could potentially inspire future legislation. Thanks to this internship opportunity, I gained a true peek into what the world of policy and politics is like, while making some amazing connections along the way. As I conclude my time at USC and begin my transition to law school, I can confidently say that this was one of my favorite experiences as an undergraduate. I’m very thankful for the Center for the Political Future and will certainly never forget this experience!”

Project: Online Privacy and Security Measure for Minors

USC Students: Erika L. Aguayo Gutierrez, Celine De Villa, Jonathan Kamanta, Ella Noravian, and Eli Scott

Research Question: What are some regulations that can be implemented at the state level in California to protect children’s privacy on the internet?

Policy Recommendations:

1. Draft a law that would allow someone, upon becoming 18, to delete any data that has been stored on them while they were minors.
2. Adopt the data protection principles of the GDPR – Purpose Limitation, Data Minimization, Accuracy, and Storage Limitation.
3. Incorporate Infancy Doctrine into California’s State Legislation. Adopt the data protection principles of the FDLP and LGPD. Require parental consent and impose fines for damage, loss, alteration, destruction, or unauthorized use, access, or treatment of user’s data.
4. Draft a provision that would require an individual to verify their age prior to creating a social media account.
5. Draft a law that implements Internet Safety and Literacy in K-12 education for both parents and students through the standards that NGOs use.

Read the group’s full research presentation.

Watch the video presentation on “Online Privacy and Security Measure for Minors.”