A bill for an act relating to certain commercial entities who publish or distribute obscene material on the internet, and providing civil penalties.(Formerly HF 62.)
Impact
HF864 will significantly alter how content is managed on platforms that distribute obscene material, tightening restrictions and establishing clear legal ramifications for non-compliance. The bill provides protections for individuals by mandating that covered platforms not retain any personal identifying information once age verification is completed. Additionally, it aims to enhance accountability among online service providers, which could influence broader discussions about digital privacy and content moderation policies across various internet platforms.
Summary
House File 864 (HF864) pertains to the regulation of commercial entities that publish or distribute obscene material on the internet. This bill establishes a framework requiring these entities, referred to as 'covered platforms,' to implement reasonable age verification practices to prevent minors from accessing inappropriate content. If a covered platform fails to comply, it could face civil penalties enforced by the attorney general, including fines up to $10,000 for each violation. Moreover, the bill also grants authority to the attorney general to pursue punitive damages up to three times the total amount of attorney fees incurred by plaintiffs who successfully bring forth such cases.
Contention
The introduction of HF864 has raised several points of contention among lawmakers and advocacy groups. Proponents emphasize the importance of protecting minors from exposure to harmful material online and view the bill as a necessary step in ensuring responsible digital citizenship. Conversely, critics argue that the age verification requirements could lead to excessive data collection and infringe on privacy rights, particularly if not managed with stringent oversight. There are concerns about the feasibility of implementing such systems without creating barriers for legitimate users while also addressing the potential for misuse of the data collected, even if retention is prohibited.
Similar To
A bill for an act relating to obscene material available on devices and imposing civil liability on certain entities who publish or distribute obscene material on the internet.(See HF 864.)
A bill for an act relating to obscene material available on devices and imposing civil liability on entities who publish or distribute obscene material on the internet.
A bill for an act relating to obscene material available on devices and imposing civil liability on platforms who publish or distribute obscene material on the internet and including effective date provisions.
A bill for an act relating to civil liability for commercial entities who publish or distribute material harmful to minors on the internet, and providing penalties.
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.)
A bill for an act relating to the dissemination of certain specified materials, including the prohibition of certain specified materials in schools and civil actions to determine obscenity, modifying the responsibilities of the department of education, and providing civil penalties.
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 the dissemination of certain specified materials, including the prohibition of certain specified materials in schools and civil actions to determine obscenity, modifying the responsibilities of the department of education, and providing civil penalties.
A bill for an act relating to the Iowa human life protection Act, providing for civil actions and civil penalties, and including effective date provisions.
A bill for an act relating to certain commercial entities who publish or distribute obscene material on the internet, and providing civil penalties.(Formerly SF 207.)