AB 1043: A balanced approach to protecting children online

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OPINION – California stands at a crossroads. Assembly Bill 1043, the Digital Age Assurance Act, sits on Governor Newsom’s desk awaiting his signature. This landmark legislation represents our best opportunity to protect children online while preserving the digital lifelines that LGBTQ+ youth depend on for survival and support.

The journey to this moment has been long and challenging. I want to thank Assemblywoman Buffy Wicks for her tireless leadership in championing this thoughtful approach to online safety. Throughout the legislative process, Assemblywoman Wicks listened to diverse voices, including organizations like The TransLatin@ Coalition, to ensure that AB 1043 would protect all children without sacrificing the online communities that serve as sanctuaries for vulnerable youth.

For trans and gender-diverse young people, especially those from Latino and immigrant backgrounds, digital spaces often provide the first glimpse of acceptance and understanding. These online communities offer vital resources about gender identity, health information, and peer support that may be completely unavailable in their immediate environments. For many vulnerable young people, these digital connections can be lifelines that provide hope and support during difficult times.

AB 1043 recognizes this reality. Unlike other approaches that risk blocking LGBTQ+ affirming content through broad content restrictions, this legislation focuses on protecting young people’s access to supportive communities. The app store verification approach creates a streamlined system that protects children from harmful content without cutting off access to the resources they need to understand themselves and find community.

The privacy protections built into this bill are equally crucial. Many LGBTQ+ youth need discretion as they explore their identity, especially those living in households where their safety might be compromised if their online activities were exposed. AB 1043’s centralized approach minimizes data collection across multiple platforms, creating a more secure environment for young people who are particularly vulnerable to privacy breaches.

This matters deeply to our communities because the bill emerged from meaningful engagement with LGBTQ+ advocates, parents, educators, and child safety experts. The collaborative process that Assemblywoman Wicks led demonstrates that effective policymaking happens through listening, learning, and building solutions that serve everyone, not just the most privileged.

We have come far, but our work is not finished. Across the country, LGBTQ+ rights are under attack. Other states are passing laws that explicitly target trans youth and restrict their access to information, healthcare, and support. In this hostile climate, California must lead by example, showing that we can protect young people online without abandoning our commitment to inclusion and equality.

While some in the legislature are pushing warning labels as a solution to online safety concerns, that approach misses the mark. Warning labels alone cannot provide the comprehensive protections that families need or address the real challenges young people face online. AB 1043 offers a balanced solution through practical tools that encourage healthy engagement online.

The TransLatin@ Coalition has advocated for transgender and gender-diverse individuals in our communities. We have seen how access to affirming resources and supportive communities can transform lives. We have also witnessed the consequences when young people are cut off from these vital connections.

Governor Newsom, you have the power to ensure that California remains a beacon of hope for LGBTQ+ youth across the nation. By signing AB 1043, you will demonstrate that protecting children and supporting LGBTQ+ communities are not opposing goals but complementary values that strengthen our entire state.

The young people in our communities are counting on this moment. They need leaders who understand that true protection comes from thoughtful policies that preserve access to vital resources while creating appropriate safeguards. AB 1043 represents these California values we hold dear: innovation, inclusion, and protecting our most vulnerable residents. The bill provides practical solutions for families while ensuring that no young person is cut off from the digital communities that help them understand who they are and who they can become.

The fight for LGBTQ+ equality continues, but today we have the opportunity to take a significant step forward. Governor Newsom, we urge you to sign AB 1043 into law and help California lead the nation in creating digital safety policies that protect all children while preserving the online spaces where LGBTQ+ youth discover their strength, find their voices, and build community. Our young people deserve nothing less.

Bamby Salcedo is the President and CEO of the TransLatin@ Coalition, which advocates for and addresses the issues of transgender Latinas throughout the United States.