Alabama 2025 Regular Session

Alabama House Bill HB235 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

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1	1	HB235INTRODUCED
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3	3	HB235
4	4	PWDSEEG-1
5	5	By Representatives Faulkner, DuBose, Hulsey, Collins
6	6	RFD: Children and Senior Advocacy
7	7	First Read: 06-Feb-25
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12	12	5 PWDSEEG-1 02/05/2025 THR (L)ma 2024-3243
13	13	Page 1
14	14	First Read: 06-Feb-25
15	15	SYNOPSIS:
16	16	This bill would require social media platforms
17	17	to prevent individuals under 16 years of age from
18	18	creating accounts.
19	19	This bill would require social media platforms
20	20	to use a commercially reasonable age verification
21	21	process.
22	22	This bill would also provide that a knowing or
23	23	reckless violation of this act by a social media
24	24	platform is a deceptive trade practice and would
25	25	provide for civil penalties.
26	26	A BILL
27	27	TO BE ENTITLED
28	28	AN ACT
29	29	Relating to social media; to require social media
30	30	platforms to verify the age of new users and to prohibit
31	31	individuals under 16 years of age from creating a new account;
32	32	to designate the Attorney General as the enforcing authority
33	33	of the act; and to provide penalties for violations.
34	34	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF ALABAMA:
35	35	Section 1. For the purposes of this act, the following
36	36	terms have the following meanings:
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64	64	28 HB235 INTRODUCED
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66	66	terms have the following meanings:
67	67	(1) ACCOUNT HOLDER. A resident who opens, creates, or
68	68	operates a profile on a social media platform or is identified
69	69	by a social media platform by a unique identifier while using
70	70	or accessing a social media platform when the social media
71	71	platform knows or has reason to believe that the resident is
72	72	located in this state.
73	73	(2) RESIDENT. An individual who resides in this state
74	74	for at least six months out of every year.
75	75	(3) SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORM. An online forum, website, or
76	76	application that satisfies both of the following criteria:
77	77	a. Allows users to upload content or view the content
78	78	or activity of other users.
79	79	b. Employs algorithms that analyze user data or
80	80	information on users to select content for users.
81	81	Section 2. Beginning January 1, 2026, a social media
82	82	platform shall prohibit and prevent any individual under 16
83	83	years of age from becoming an account holder.
84	84	Section 3. Beginning January 1, 2026, a social media
85	85	platform shall use a commercially reasonable process to verify
86	86	the age of any individual attempting to create an account.
87	87	Section 4. (a) Any knowing or reckless violation of
88	88	this act is deemed a deceptive trade practice actionable under
89	89	Chapter 19 of Title 8 of the Code of Alabama 1975. If the
90	90	Attorney General has reason to believe that a social media
91	91	platform is in violation of this act, the Attorney General, as
92	92	the enforcing authority, may bring an action against the
93	93	social media platform for an unfair or deceptive trade
94	94	practice. In addition to other remedies available under
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122	122	56 HB235 INTRODUCED
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124	124	practice. In addition to other remedies available under
125	125	Chapter 19 of Title 8 of the Code of Alabama 1975, the
126	126	Attorney General may collect a civil penalty of up to fifty
127	127	thousand dollars ($50,000) per violation, reasonable attorney
128	128	fees, and court costs.
129	129	(b) If a violation described in subsection (a) is part
130	130	of a consistent pattern of knowing or reckless conduct, the
131	131	Attorney General may seek punitive damages against the social
132	132	media platform.
133	133	Section 5. This act shall become effective on January
134	134	1, 2026.
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