Cases of Note

The Maryland Legislature this weekend passed two sweeping privacy bills that aim to restrict how powerful tech platforms can harvest and use the personal data of consumers and young people — despite strong objections from industry trade groups representing giants like Amazon, Google and Meta. The  Maryland Online Data Privacy Act , would impose wide-ranging restrictions on how companies may collect and use the personal data of consumers in the state. The other, the  Maryland Kids Code , would prohibit certain social media, video game and other online platforms from tracking people under 18 and from using manipulative techniques — like auto-playing videos or bombarding children with notifications — to keep young people glued online. “We are making a statement to the tech industry, and to Marylanders, that we need to rein in some of this data gathering,” said Delegate  Sara Love,  a Democratic member of the Maryland House of Delegates. Ms. Love, who sponsored the consumer bill and cospon