What the EU AI Act Actually Gives Teens (Even in the U.S.)

The EU AI Act, in force since 2024, bans 'social scoring,' bans emotion-recognition AI in schools, and bans 'manipulative' AI targeting minors. Because companies like TikTok, OpenAI, Snap, and Meta operate in the EU, they typically apply these rules globally rather than build two products. So a U.S. teen often gets EU-style protections by default — including the right to ask any company 'what data of mine did you use to train this AI, and delete it.'

Some examples

• OpenAI's Data Subject Access Request portal (privacy.openai.com) lets anyone — including U.S. teens — request deletion of their data from training; it exists because of GDPR/AI Act risk.
• TikTok's 'Personalization' settings now let you turn off algorithmic FYP entirely — that toggle exists because the EU forced it under DSA in 2024.
• Schools in the EU can no longer legally use Gaggle-style emotion AI on classroom video; U.S. districts that license EU-built products inherit that ban.
• Snap's My AI added an 'explain why I got this answer' button in 2024 to comply with the AI Act's 'right to explanation' requirement.

Try it!

Search '[app name] data subject access request' for an app you use heavily. Submit the form. By law (in EU + several U.S. states), they must respond in 30-45 days with everything they have on you.