Minnesota

OPINION EXCHANGE | Minnesota bill would do more harm than good to kids' online safety

Published

2 years ago

May 12, 2024

OPINION EXCHANGE | Minnesota bill would do more harm than good to kids' online safety

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Legislation under consideration in Minnesota that would require any website that may “reasonably likely be accessed” by minors to take certain steps to protect them would actually have severe unintended consequences affecting the privacy and security of both kids and adults.

While the authors’ goal is admirable, the reality of this legislation is troubling and falls short for a number of reasons.

Under the proposal, billed as the Age-Appropriate Design Code Act (HF 2257/SF 2810), companies with websites “likely to be accessed” by a minor (aka every website) will be forced to require proof of age. This may include a wide range of personal information such as birth dates, addresses, pictures and government IDs.

In practice, this legislation will result in every website amassing a massive trove of data on every one of its users — be they adults or children. This will be a ripe target for hackers and criminals. The fact that every website will have to comply means that the protection of users’ data is only as good as the weakest security of any single website they visit.

Data breaches have become more and more common. According to Flashpoint National Security Solutions’ 2024 Global Threat Intelligence Report, cyberattacks in 2023 resulted in the exposure of more than 17 billion personal records. What’s more, according to Javelin Strategy & Research, approximately 1.7 million children were affected by data breaches in 2022. With these cybercrimes on the rise, we must be cautious about collecting any more of our children’s personal information.

Besides the obvious risk to kids’ privacy and security, this bill has serious issues handing the power over what our children consume online over to company executives in boardrooms instead of parents. The broad language of the legislation will force companies to make wide-ranging, subjective determinations for what is in the “best interests of children,” as the bill mandates, raising significant First Amendment concerns.

This could restrict young people’s access to perfectly age-appropriate content based on the opinion of that individual company.

Parents are in the best position to decide what is best for their children. It should be up to each family’s discretion to decide what kids see and post online to ensure the best outcomes for their education and overall well-being. To do this, platforms should enable tools to help parents manage this. Companies should perform risk-based impact assessments to ensure they are protecting young people’s data. And, we should empower the proper regulatory agencies to enforce legislation and ensure compliance.

Companies focused on their bottom lines will not be able or willing to protect kids from their own corporate biases, potentially empowering a slew of politically driven misinformation.

Notably, California recently passed its own version of legislation like this, which was swiftly blocked by a federal judge over concerns of First Amendment violations. Minnesota’s effort is sure to share a similar fate.

We all believe that protecting children is the highest priority, but this legislation is not a magic wand that will shield kids from harm. The Age-Appropriate Design Code Act would require companies to collect more of every Minnesotan’s personal information, putting their security at perilous risk in the ever more likely event of a cyberattack.

Instead, we should encourage and equip every parent to be active in their children’s online presence to ensure safe use of the internet that allows the maximum freedom to enrich a child’s education and development. Minnesota lawmakers must carefully consider how this legislation would be implemented in reality and the unintended consequences that could arise across the internet as a result.

Jeremy Brookins, a nurse anesthetist, lives in Hugo with his wife and their three children ages 6, 9 and 11.

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Minnesota

Iran conflict: 250 Minnesota National Guard member serving in Middle East

Published

4 hours ago

March 2, 2026

Press Room

Iran conflict: 250 Minnesota National Guard member serving in Middle East

(FOX 9) – The Minnesota National Guard tells FOX 9 there are currently 250 guard members on regularly scheduled deployment at the United States Central Command areas of responsibility as the United States leads strikes in Iran.

Guardsman in Middle East

What we know:

The Minnesota National Guard says the deployed airmen and soldiers are serving from Duluth’s 148th Fighter Wing, the Marshall-based 1-151 Artillery, and the Stillwater-based 34th Military Police Company.

What they’re saying:

“While their missions and duty locations vary, all are grateful for the strong support of those back home,” writes Army Maj. Andrea Tsuchiya, State Public Affairs Officer for the Minnesota National Guard.

What we don’t know:

The guard did not disclose the exact bases or countries where the soldiers and airmen are serving.

CENTCOM covers 21 countries including: Afghanistan, Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, the United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan and Yemen.

Pres. Trump says Iran operations likely to last 4 to 5 weeks

Big picture view:

In his first public remarks since the launch of the attack on Iran, President Trump said he expected operations to last four to five weeks, but he was prepared “to go far longer than that.”

The president also laid out his objective for the mission: to destroy Iran’s missile capabilities, to “annihilate” their navy, to ensure the country doesn’t obtain a nuclear weapon and that the regime “cannot continue to arm, fund and direct terrorist armies outside of their borders.”

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Minnesota

U.S.-Israeli strikes spark dueling rallies in Twin Cities

Published

16 hours ago

March 2, 2026

Press Room

U.S.-Israeli strikes spark dueling rallies in Twin Cities

Iranians in Minnesota react to Khamenei death

Iranians in the Twin Cities gathered in downtown Minneapolis on Sunday to celebrate major developments in the Middle East following the death of Supreme Leader Khamenei. While many Iranian-Americans expressed hope for regime change, anti-war protesters also took to the streets to condemn the military strikes, with some members of Minnesota’s DFL delegation calling the operation “unlawful” and “illegal.”

MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) – Iranians in the Twin Cities gathered in downtown Minneapolis Sunday to celebrate major developments in the Middle East. Anti-war protesters also took the streets of Minneapolis Saturday.

Plus, Jewish communities say they are on high alert over concerns of potential retaliatory acts in major cities across the U.S.

‘Massive moment’

What we know:

Following a joint U.S. and Israeli military operation in Iran, Khamenei was killed in an attack, Iranian state media confirmed early Sunday.

What they’re saying:

Iranian community groups rallied at Nicollet Mall and 11th Street on Sunday to express hope for regime change.

Dozens of Iranian-Americans said they are celebrating the news.

“We are here to support Iranian people. Today, everybody is happy, very happy,” said Beheshteh Zargaran, an Iranian-American.

“Killed Khamenei, which was the supreme leader, and hopefully they will continue this action and help Iranians finally topple the Islamic regime,” said Faraz Samavat, an Iranian-American.

“That means a lot. We are fighting for almost half a century to destroy this cruel regime against people of Iran,” said Ali Mohammad, an Iranian-American.

Iranians in MN celebrate strikes by Pres. Trump

Iranians in the Twin Cities are gathering in downtown Minneapolis to celebrate major developments in the Middle East following a joint U.S. and Israeli military operation. Community groups rallied at Nicollet Mall and 11th Street to express hope for regime change after news that Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Khamenei, was killed in Saturday’s airstrikes.

The other side:

Protesters also took to the streets in the Twin Cities over the weekend condemning the strikes.

Some people are criticizing the military operation including members of Minnesota’s DFL delegation. Congresswoman Betty McCollum called the strikes “unlawful” and Congresswoman Ilhan Omar called the war “illegal and unjustified.”

Heightened security:

Jewish communities in Minnesota say they are also on high alert following security guidance across the country to prevent potential retaliatory violence.

“A heightened sense of vigilance making sure that everybody is aware of their surroundings and that all of the protective measures are in place,” said Steve Hunegs, executive director of the Jewish Community Relations Council of Minnesota and the Dakotas.

There are currently no known specific threats against local Jewish communities.

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Minnesota

Here’s how much snow parts of Minnesota got on Saturday, Feb. 28

Published

1 day ago

March 1, 2026

Press Room

Here’s how much snow parts of Minnesota got on Saturday, Feb. 28

article

Storm reports in from Minnesota on Saturday, Feb. 28.

LANESBORO, Minn. (FOX 9) – Impressive snow totals were reported in parts of Minnesota after a narrow band of heavy snowfall worked its way across the state.