The Arkansas Children and Teens' Online Privacy Protection Act aims to enhance the privacy rights of minors in the digital space by introducing a new subchapter to the Arkansas Code. This legislation establishes key definitions such as "child," "teen," "operator," and "personal information," and prohibits operators of websites and online services from collecting personal information from minors in violation of its provisions. It restricts the use of such information for targeted advertising and mandates clear notice regarding data collection practices. Additionally, operators must obtain consent from parents or guardians before collecting personal information from teens and ensure that such information is retained only as long as necessary for specific transactions or services.

The bill, HB1717, further outlines the responsibilities of operators regarding the collection and processing of minors' personal information. Operators are required to disclose the types of information collected, the purpose of data processing, and the rights of parents and teens concerning their data. They must also implement reasonable security practices to protect this information and cannot require minors to disclose more personal information than necessary for participation in activities. The Attorney General is granted exclusive authority to enforce these provisions, and the act is set to take effect on July 1, 2026.