Tennessee Senate Bill SB1643

Tennessee 2023-2024 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/5/24

Caption

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 37; Title 47, Chapter 18 and Title 68, relative to age verification for certain material.

Impact

If enacted, SB1643 will have significant implications for online businesses operating within Tennessee. By mandating stringent age verification processes, the bill seeks to protect minors from access to inappropriate content. Entities found violating the regulations could face civil penalties of up to $10,000 per day for ongoing violations, along with additional penalties if minors are found to have accessed restricted content. The legislation aims to create a safer online environment for minors, though it may also lead to increased legal and technical burdens for digital content providers.

Summary

Senate Bill 1643 aims to amend several sections of the Tennessee Code to introduce regulations surrounding age verification for online content that is deemed harmful to minors. The bill's main thrust is to require commercial entities that publish or distribute sexual material harmful to minors to implement reasonable age verification methods. This includes verifying that individuals attempting to access such materials are at least eighteen years old, using methods such as digital identification or government-issued identification. Failure to adhere to these regulations can result in substantial civil penalties for non-compliance.

Contention

There may be notable points of contention surrounding SB1643, particularly regarding the balance between protecting minors and potential overreach into the rights of commercial entities. Critics might argue that the age verification requirements could infringe on privacy rights, especially concerning the retention of identifying information. Additionally, the broad definition of harmful material and the vague terms associated with age verification may lead to challenges in implementation and compliance. Supporters of the bill, on the other hand, emphasize the urgent need for protective measures in an increasingly digital world, aiming to ensure that children are safeguarded from exposure to harmful content.