New York S 6873: Relates to the use of voice recognition features on certain products

Bill Text

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S06873 Summary:

BILL NOS06873 

&nbsp

SAME ASNo Same As

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SPONSORCOMRIE

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COSPNSR

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MLTSPNSR

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Add Art 32-A §676, Gen Bus L

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Relates to the use of voice recognition features on certain products.

Go to top S06873 Actions:

BILL NOS06873 

&nbsp

03/25/2025REFERRED TO CONSUMER PROTECTION

01/07/2026REFERRED TO CONSUMER PROTECTION

Go to topS06873 Committee&nbspVotes:

Go to topS06873 Floor&nbspVotes:

There are no Assembly votes for this bill in this legislative session.

Go to topS06873 Text:

 STATE OF NEW YORK
 ________________________________________________________________________

 6873

 2025-2026 Regular Sessions

 IN SENATE

 March 25, 2025
 ___________

 Introduced by Sen. COMRIE -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
 printed to be committed to the Committee on Consumer Protection

 AN ACT to amend the general business law, in relation to the use of
 voice recognition features

 The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-
 bly, do enact as follows:

 1 Section 1. The general business law is amended by adding a new article
 2 32-A to read as follows:
 3 ARTICLE 32-A
 4 VOICE RECOGNITION FEATURES
 5 Section 676. Use of voice recognition features in products.
 6 § 676. Use of voice recognition features in products. 1. For purposes
 7 of this section, the following definitions shall apply:
 8 (a) "Connected device" shall mean a television, video game console as
 9 defined in section three hundred ninety-six-kk of this chapter, computer
 10 as defined in section three hundred ninety-two-a of this chapter,
 11 computer accessory as defined in section three hundred ninety-two-a of
 12 this chapter, internet-capable device as defined in section five hundred
 13 thirty-eight-b of this chapter, or a toy as defined in paragraph (d) of
 14 this subdivision.
 15 (b) "User" means a person who originally purchases, leases, or takes
 16 ownership of a connected device. A person who is incidentally recorded
 17 when a voice recognition feature is activated by a user shall not be
 18 deemed to be a user.
 19 (c) "Voice recognition feature" means the function of a connected
 20 device that allows the collection, recording, storage, analysis, trans-
 21 mission, interpretation, or other use of spoken words or other sounds.
 22 (d) "Toy" means any product designed or intended by the manufacturer
 23 to be used by children or adults for amusement or play.
 24 2. (a) A person or entity shall not provide the operation of a voice
 25 recognition feature within this state without prominently informing,

 EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
 [ ] is old law to be omitted.
 LBD04965-01-5

 S. 6873 2

 1 during the initial setup or installation of a connected device, either
 2 the user or the person designated by the user to perform the initial
 3 setup or installation of the connected device of the functions of the
 4 device, that the device may be recording the user, and that the entity
 5 that makes the device may be retaining these recordings.
 6 (b) Any recordings collected through the operation of a voice recogni-
 7 tion feature by the manufacturer of a connected device shall not be sold
 8 or used for any advertising purposes.
 9 (c) Any recordings collected through the operation of a voice recogni-
 10 tion feature by a third party contracting with the manufacturer of a
 11 connected device shall not be sold or used for any advertising purposes.
 12 (d) The manufacturer of a connected device shall not be liable for
 13 functionality provided by third party applications that the user chooses
 14 to use or are downloaded and installed by a user.
 15 3. Nothing in this section shall be construed to authorize disclosure
 16 of any recordings retained by the manufacturer to any individual or
 17 entity, including a law enforcement agency, or any officer, employee, or
 18 agent of such agency, unless otherwise authorized by law or pursuant to
 19 a judicial order.
 20 4. (a) Whenever the attorney general shall believe from evidence
 21 satisfactory to them that there is a violation of this section, such
 22 attorney general may bring an action in the name and on behalf of the
 23 people of the state of New York, in a court of competent jurisdiction to
 24 enjoin and restrain the cont