It’s Thursday, Orlando. Expect a mix of sun and clouds throughout the day today and a possible stray shower or two later in the evening. Highs will reach 94° with lows remaining at about 75°. Here’s what’s on deck:

• New Details on Florida Law Banning Social Media for Kids

• Orlando-Based Cybersecurity Firm Planning to Double Its Workforce

Let’s dive in.

GOVERNMENT

New Details on Florida Law Banning Social Media for Kids

What's happening: Florida's Attorney General detailed proposed rules to enforce a new law designed to restrict minors' access to social media. The law mandates age verification and seeks to prevent children under 16 from creating accounts without parental consent.

Why it matters: The law, effective January 1st, faces First Amendment challenges from tech industry groups who argue that age verification infringes on constitutional rights. Proponents believe it protects children from the harms of social media and online predators.

Key details:

• Age restrictions: Children under 14 can't open accounts. Ages 14-15 need parental consent.

• Enforcement: Platforms could face lawsuits for failing to verify ages, with "knowing or reckless" violations leading to legal actions.

Proposed rules:

• Platforms must use "reasonable" methods to verify users' ages.

• Parental verification includes checking names, addresses, and contact information.

• Platforms won't be liable if they use reasonable verification methods but still fail to identify minors.

What's next: The proposed rules, now published, could lead to hearings before finalization. The law, signed by Gov. DeSantis in March, has been criticized for potential unconstitutionality, with expected legal battles ahead.

Read more here (Orlando Weekly)

BUSINESS

Orlando-Based Cybersecurity Firm Planning to Double Its Workforce

What’s happening: Orlando-based cybersecurity firm ThreatLocker is ramping up its workforce to combat a surge in cyber-attacks against U.S. businesses.

Backdrop: Due in part to the fallout from the Russian-Ukranian war, cybercrime has increased as some skilled IT professionals have turned to hacking. Per ThreatLocker CEO Danny Jenkins, some of these hackers are previous employees of American companies.

By the numbers: ThreatLocker protects over 46,000 companies from data breaches and ransomware. The firm is rapidly expanding, having hired 92 new employees in the past two months and expecting to double its workforce this year and next.

Key factors:

• Zero trust security: The company’s approach involves a stringent security model that prioritizes essential business functions and blocks everything else.

• Customer service: Per Jenkins, the company’s average response time is 23 seconds, with 24/7/365 availability from their Orlando headquarters and other international offices.

What to watch: With the cyber threat landscape intensifying, ThreatLocker’s continued growth and proactive measures could be crucial in safeguarding businesses in Florida and across the globe.

Read more here (Click Orlando)

QUICK HITS

In Other News…

1. 7,300 pounds of cocaine was intercepted off of the Florida coast with a total street value of around $96 million, according to officials.

2. The Florida Department of Education released its grades for schools and districts across the state. See how they stacked up here.

3. Avelo Airlines added eight new flights out of two Central Florida airports.

Thanks for tuning in to today’s edition of the newsletter. See you back here tomorrow.

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