Oklahoma House Bill HB1050

Oklahoma 2024 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/6/23
• Refer: 2/7/23

Caption

Human trafficking and child exploitation; creating the Human Trafficking and Child Exploitation Prevention Act; directing retailers of Internet-enabled devices to equip products with certain filters; codification; effective date.

Impact

If enacted, this bill would introduce significant changes to how internet-enabled devices are sold and operated in Oklahoma. Retailers who fail to comply with the requirements can face penalties, including fines and misdemeanor charges. The bill would also create the Oklahoma Human Trafficking and Child Exploitation Prevention Grant Fund to support non-profits and organizations working towards helping survivors of sexual violence and other related offenses. This fund would be fed by fees collected from both filter deactivation and admissions to live adult entertainment venues.

Summary

House Bill 1050, titled the Human Trafficking and Child Exploitation Prevention Act, aims to establish regulations to combat human trafficking and child exploitation through the use of internet-enabled devices. The bill mandates that retailers selling such devices equip them with filters designed to block access to websites showcasing harmful content, including child pornography and sites that facilitate human trafficking. Additionally, retailers are required to maintain these filters and report any incidents of child pornography to designated authorities.

Contention

While the legislation seeks to enhance protections against child exploitation and trafficking, it has raised concerns regarding consumer privacy and the potential for overreach in regulating content access. Retailers must charge a fee to deactivate filters, which has been criticized as a barrier for consumers seeking to access legitimate content while ensuring that there are measures in place to protect vulnerable groups. Furthermore, the bill's implications on the operation of internet service providers and the scope of content filtering required have sparked debate among stakeholders about the enforcement and practical aspects of compliance.