Cyber Safety in the News

Minnesota Gov. Walz Signs Law to Stop AI Being Used for Child Sex Abuse Material (CSAM)

CBS News, May 8, 2026

This month, Tim Walz signed a first-of-its-kind Minnesota law designed to stop artificial intelligence from being used to create child sexual abuse material (CSAM) and nonconsensual fake nude images. The law specifically targets “nudification” technology, which uses AI to digitally remove clothing from photos or videos of real people. Lawmakers said these tools have increasingly been used to exploit children and create harmful deepfake images without consent.

The law, called HF 1606, received strong bipartisan support in the Minnesota Legislature. Under the new rules, companies can face large penalties if they allow access to AI tools that generate these fake explicit images. The law also gives victims the ability to sue people or companies involved in creating or distributing the images. Supporters argued that technology companies and lawmakers need to move faster to protect people, especially minors, from harmful uses of AI.

The article also highlights that Minnesota is now the first state in the country to ban this kind of AI technology directly. Experts and advocates said the law could become a model for other states as concerns grow over deepfakes, online harassment, and AI-generated abuse. Supporters believe the legislation is a crucial step toward making AI safer while still allowing responsible innovation. We hope it does!

AI Can Steal Your Fingerprints

Yahoo News, May 18, 2026

Posting high-resolution selfies could expose people’s fingerprints to hackers using AI technology. Security experts explained that modern smartphone cameras can capture detailed fingerprint patterns, especially when fingers are close to the camera, such as when making the peace sign. AI image-enhancing tools can then sharpen those details and potentially recreate usable fingerprint data. Researchers say this risk has become more serious because AI tools are now widely available and much easier to use than in the past.

Cybersecurity researchers proved years ago that fingerprints could be copied from photographs, including images of public figures taken at events. What has changed is that AI now makes the process faster and more accessible. Experts noted that fingerprints are especially sensitive because, unlike passwords, they cannot simply be changed if stolen. The article also mentions several major biometric-data breaches, including incidents involving millions of fingerprint records, showing why fingerprint security is such a concern.

Even if someone copied a fingerprint, hackers would still need added access to a person’s devices or accounts to cause harm. The article recommends simple precautions, like avoiding close-up hand poses in public photos, using two-factor authentication, and treating fingerprints as only one layer of security instead of relying on them alone. Knowing the online risks is especially important before you post.

New Surgeon General’s Advisory Raises Alarm About Screen Time Risks for Kids and Teens

CNN, May 20, 2026

There is a new public health advisory warning that excessive screen time has become a major concern for children and teenagers in the United States. Health officials said kids are spending more hours than ever on phones, tablets, gaming systems, and social media, often starting before their first birthday. The advisory links heavy screen use to problems such as poor sleep, lower academic performance, less physical activity, anxiety, depression, and weaker face-to-face social skills. Officials stressed that screens are now part of a much larger “digital ecosystem” that includes apps, smartphones, chatbots, and online entertainment.

The article also explains that the advisory encourages families, schools, and healthcare providers to take a more active role in helping kids build healthier technology habits. Suggested strategies include setting limits on screen use, encouraging outdoor activities and in-person interactions, turning devices off during certain times of day, and keeping phones out of classrooms. Experts interviewed in the article said the goal is not to completely eliminate technology, but to help children use it in more balanced and healthy ways. Researchers also noted that the type of screen use matters since educational activities are different from endless scrolling or gaming. Parents should regularly pay attention to their children’s screen time balance.

Meta Settles First US Case Over School Costs Tied to Youth Mental Health

Reuters, May 21, 2026

Meta reached a settlement in the first U.S. lawsuit brought by a school district seeking compensation for the costs of addressing youth mental health problems allegedly linked to social media use. The case was filed by the Breathitt County School District in Kentucky, which argued that platforms like Facebook and Instagram contributed to anxiety, depression, and other mental health struggles among students. The district had sought more than $60 million to fund long-term counseling and mental health programs, while also pushing for changes to reduce addictive platform features.

The lawsuit is part of a much larger wave of litigation against social media companies, with thousands of similar cases pending in California courts. School districts, states, and individuals claim companies such as Meta, TikTok, Snapchat, and YouTube intentionally designed their platforms to maximize user engagement among young people through features like infinite scrolling and constant notifications. Meta and the other companies have denied wrongdoing and say they already provide safety tools, parental controls, and protections for teens.

Reuters notes that the settlement is significant because it came just before what would have been a major “bellwether” trial, meaning a test case likely to influence future lawsuits. Earlier this year, Meta and Google lost another youth social media harm case in California, where a jury found their platforms negligent for contributing to a young woman’s mental health struggles. Legal experts believe these cases could increase pressure on tech companies to redesign parts of their apps and could shape future laws around child safety online.

Teens Need to Press Pause on Late-Night Doomscrolling

CNN, May 27, 2026

The article explains that a new study found many American teens are losing sleep because they use their phones late at night, especially between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. Researchers tracked the phone habits of more than 650 teenagers and discovered that over half were active on their phones between midnight and 4 a.m. Social media, video apps, streaming, and gaming were the most common nighttime activities. Experts said this matters because teens need about eight to ten hours of sleep each night for healthy brain development, learning, and emotional well-being.

The article also discusses how nighttime phone use can affect teens’ health, mood, and school performance. The research is considered especially important because it used phone-tracking technology instead of relying only on teens’ self-reported habits, giving a more accurate picture of how much phones are affecting sleep. Researchers noted that late-night scrolling and notifications can interrupt sleep cycles and make it harder to focus during the day. Suggested simple changes include turning off notifications at night and creating family screen-time plans. The best advice we give to parents is to keep devices out of their children’s bedrooms altogether.