A bill for an act relating to parental authorization for minors to create accounts on social media platforms, providing civil penalties, and including applicability provisions.(See HF 798.)
Impact
Upon enactment, HF278 will alter the operational protocols of social media companies operating in Iowa. Companies must implement processes to verify parental consent, and they will no longer be able to collect or retain data from minors without proper authorization. Additionally, parents will be granted access to their children's accounts, allowing them oversight of their children's online interactions, thereby enhancing family communication and accountability within the context of social media usage.
Summary
House File 278, also known as the Social Media Parental Authorization Act, introduces a regulatory framework requiring social media companies to obtain parental consent before allowing minors to create accounts on their platforms. The bill is driven by concerns over the safety and privacy of minors in digital spaces, aiming to empower parents with control over their children's online activities. By enforcing parental authorization, the bill seeks to mitigate incidents of cyberbullying, inappropriate content exposure, and data privacy issues related to minors.
Contention
The bill has sparked discussions regarding its implications for user privacy and the operational burden it may create for social media companies. Proponents argue that it is a necessary measure to protect minors and give parents more authority and responsibility over their children's internet interactions. However, there are concerns about the feasibility of enforcing such requirements on platforms and the potential for creating barriers to access for young users who may benefit from engaging in social media responsibly.
Legal ramifications
HF278 also establishes provisions for enforcement, allowing the attorney general to pursue civil penalties against companies that violate the parental authorization requirements, with penalties of up to $1,000 per violation. Moreover, the bill permits harmed individuals to seek damages through civil actions, thus facilitating accountability and legal recourse for violations of minors' rights.
Similar To
A bill for an act relating to parental authorization for minors to create accounts on social media platforms, providing civil penalties, and including applicability provisions.(Formerly HF 278.)
A bill for an act relating to parental authorization for minors to create accounts on social media platforms, providing civil penalties, and including applicability provisions. (Formerly HF 2255.)
A bill for an act relating to parental authorization for minors to create accounts on social media platforms, providing civil penalties, and including applicability provisions.(See HF 2523.)
A bill for an act relating to social media data collection regarding children under eighteen years of age, providing civil penalties, and including applicability provisions.(Formerly HF 526.)
A bill for an act relating to parental consent regarding internet sites for users under the age of sixteen, providing civil penalties, and including applicability provisions.
A bill for an act relating to the regulation of access to obscene material by minors on social media platforms, and including effective date provisions.
A bill for an act relating to social media users under eighteen years of age, making penalties applicable, and including applicability provisions.(See HF 712.)
A bill for an act relating to minors using the internet, including social media and internet safety instruction and education requirements in public schools and liability for publication of obscene material available to minors on the internet.(Formerly HF 2114.)