Alabama 2025 Regular Session

Alabama House Bill HB318 Compare Versions

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

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1	1	HB318INTRODUCED
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3	3	HB318
4	4	KHPBCAA-1
5	5	By Representatives Sells, Mooney, Stadthagen, Bracy
6	6	RFD: Judiciary
7	7	First Read: 20-Feb-25
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12	12	5 KHPBCAA-1 02/19/2025 CMH (L)bm 2025-673
13	13	Page 1
14	14	First Read: 20-Feb-25
15	15	SYNOPSIS:
16	16	This bill would require manufacturers of certain
17	17	Internet-enabled devices, including smartphones and
18	18	tablets, to require that devices manufactured on or
19	19	after January 1, 2027, contain a filter that is enabled
20	20	during the activation of the device if the user is a
21	21	minor, and only allow a user with a password to
22	22	deactivate or reactivate the filter.
23	23	This bill would provide that a manufacturer of a
24	24	device in violation of this act is subject to civil
25	25	liability and provide for penalties.
26	26	A BILL
27	27	TO BE ENTITLED
28	28	AN ACT
29	29	Relating to consumer protection; to provide certain
30	30	requirements for the use of a filter on certain
31	31	Internet-enabled devices in this state; to provide certain
32	32	requirements for the filter; and to authorize a civil action
33	33	for a violation.
34	34	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF ALABAMA:
35	35	Section 1. As used in this act, the following terms
36	36	have the following meanings:
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66	66	have the following meanings:
67	67	(1) ACTIVATE. The process of powering on a device and
68	68	associating it with a new or existing user account.
69	69	(2) DEVICE. A tablet or a smartphone manufactured on or
70	70	after January 1, 2027.
71	71	(3) FILTER. Software used on a device that is capable
72	72	of preventing the device from accessing or displaying
73	73	obscenity through Internet browsers or search engines owned
74	74	and controlled by the manufacturer via mobile data networks,
75	75	wired Internet networks, and wireless Internet networks.
76	76	(4) INTERNET. The global information system that is
77	77	logically linked together by a globally unique address space
78	78	based on the Internet protocol (IP), or its subsequent
79	79	extensions; that is able to support communications using the
80	80	transmission control protocol/Internet protocol (TCP/IP) suite
81	81	or its subsequent extensions, or other IP-compatible
82	82	protocols; and that provides, uses, or makes accessible,
83	83	either publicly or privately, high-level services layered on
84	84	communications and related infrastructure.
85	85	(5) MANUFACTURER. A person to which all of the
86	86	following apply:
87	87	a. Is engaged in the business of manufacturing a
88	88	device.
89	89	b. Holds the patents for the device it manufactures or
90	90	holds the patents for the operating system on a device.
91	91	c. Has a commercial designated registered agent in this
92	92	state.
93	93	(6) MINOR. An individual under 18 years of age who is
94	94	not emancipated, married, or a member of the United States
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124	124	not emancipated, married, or a member of the United States
125	125	Armed Forces.
126	126	(7) OBSCENITY. A visual depiction of sexually explicit
127	127	conduct, as defined under Section 13A-12-190, Code of Alabama
128	128	1975.
129	129	(8) OPERATING SYSTEM. Software that manages all of the
130	130	other application programs on a device.
131	131	(9) PASSWORD. A string of characters or other secure
132	132	method used to enable, deactivate, modify, or uninstall a
133	133	filter on a device.
134	134	(10) RETAILER. A person, other than a manufacturer,
135	135	that sells a device directly to consumers. The term includes
136	136	an employee of a retailer acting in the course and scope of
137	137	the employee's employment.
138	138	(11) SMARTPHONE. An electronic device that combines a
139	139	cell phone with a hand-held computer, typically offering
140	140	Internet access through a browser or search engine and that
141	141	typically has data storage, text, and email capabilities.
142	142	(12) TABLET. An Internet-ready device equipped with an
143	143	operating system, touchscreen display, and rechargeable
144	144	battery in a single, thin, flat package.
145	145	Section 2. Beginning on January 1, 2027, all devices
146	146	activated in the state must meet all of the following
147	147	requirements:
148	148	(1) Contain a filter.
149	149	(2) Determine the age of the user during activation and
150	150	account set-up.
151	151	(3) Set the filter to "on" for minor users.
152	152	(4) Allow a password to be established for the filter.
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182	182	(4) Allow a password to be established for the filter.
183	183	(5) Notify the user of the device when the filter
184	184	blocks the device from accessing a website.
185	185	(6) Give the user with a password the opportunity to
186	186	deactivate and reactivate the filter.
187	187	Section 3. (a) Beginning January 1, 2027, a
188	188	manufacturer of a device shall be subject to civil liability
189	189	if all of the following occur:
190	190	(1) The device is activated in the state.
191	191	(2) The device does not, upon activation, enable a
192	192	filter that complies with the requirements described in
193	193	Section 2.
194	194	(3) A minor accesses material that is obscene on the
195	195	device.
196	196	(b) Notwithstanding subsection (a), this section does
197	197	not apply to a manufacturer that makes a good faith effort to
198	198	provide a device that, upon activation of the device in the
199	199	state, automatically enables a filter on the device that
200	200	complies with the requirements of Section 2.
201	201	(c) Nothing in this act shall be construed to create a
202	202	cause of action against the retailer of a device.
203	203	Section 4. With the exception of a minor's parent or
204	204	legal guardian, any person may be liable in a civil action for
205	205	enabling the password to remove the filter on a device in the
206	206	possession of the minor if the minor accesses content that is
207	207	obscene.
208	208	Section 5. (a) Whenever the Attorney General has reason
209	209	to believe that a person violated or is violating this act,
210	210	the Attorney General, acting in the public interest, may bring
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240	240	the Attorney General, acting in the public interest, may bring
241	241	an action in the name of the state against the person as
242	242	follows:
243	243	(1) To enjoin any action that constitutes a violation
244	244	of this act by the issuance of a temporary restraining order
245	245	or preliminary or permanent injunction.
246	246	(2) To recover from the alleged violator a civil
247	247	penalty not to exceed five thousand dollars ($5,000) per
248	248	violation, and not to exceed a total of fifty thousand dollars
249	249	($50,000) in aggregate, as determined by the court.
250	250	(3) To recover from the alleged violator the Attorney
251	251	General's reasonable expenses, investigative costs, and
252	252	attorney fees.
253	253	(4) To obtain other appropriate relief as provided for
254	254	under this act.
255	255	(b) The Attorney General, in addition to other powers
256	256	conferred by this act, may issue subpoenas to any person and
257	257	conduct hearings in aid of any investigation or inquiry.
258	258	(c) The Attorney General may seek the revocation of any
259	259	license or certificate authorizing a manufacturer to engage in
260	260	business in this state.
261	261	(d) For purposes of assessing a penalty under this
262	262	section, a manufacturer is considered to have committed a
263	263	separate violation for each device manufactured on or after
264	264	January 1, 2027, which violates Section 3.
265	265	Section 6. (a) Any parent or legal guardian of a minor
266	266	who accesses obscene content in violation of Section 2 may
267	267	bring a private cause of action in any court of competent
268	268	jurisdiction against a manufacturer who failed to comply with
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298	298	jurisdiction against a manufacturer who failed to comply with
299	299	Section 2.
300	300	(b) A prevailing plaintiff may recover all of the
301	301	following:
302	302	(1) Actual damages or, in the discretion of the court
303	303	where actual damages are difficult to ascertain due to the
304	304	nature of the injury, liquidated damages in the amount of
305	305	fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) for each violation.
306	306	(2) When a violation is found to be knowing and
307	307	willful, punitive damages in an amount determined by the
308	308	court.
309	309	(3) Nominal damages.
310	310	(4) Attorney fees.
311	311	(5) Any other relief as the court deems appropriate,
312	312	including court costs and expenses.
313	313	(c) Nothing in this section precludes the bringing of a
314	314	class action lawsuit against a manufacturer where the
315	315	manufacturer's conduct in violation of Section 2 is knowing
316	316	and willful.
317	317	(d) Any parent or legal guardian of a child may bring
318	318	an action in a court of competent jurisdiction against any
319	319	individual who is not the parent or legal guardian of the
320	320	child and who disables the filter from a device in the
321	321	possession of the child which results in the child's exposure
322	322	to obscene content.
323	323	Section 7. This act shall become effective on January
324	324	1, 2027.
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