Texas House Bill HB3105

Texas 2021 - 87th Regular

Caption

Relating to unlawful acts and practices of social media platforms; providing a civil penalty.

Impact

The introduction of HB3105 marks a significant shift in the legislative approach to social media regulation in Texas. By creating a structure where social media platforms must disclose their moderation practices, the bill seeks to enhance user awareness and accountability among technology companies. This has implications for user rights, as it aims to protect individuals, particularly candidates for office, from undue censorship and arbitrary deplatforming decisions made by social media platforms.

Summary

House Bill 3105 addresses unlawful acts and practices of social media platforms, primarily focusing on issues related to censorship, deplatforming, and algorithmic biases. The bill introduces an antitrust violator vendor list, whereby entities found guilty of violating antitrust laws may be listed and barred from public contracts. Additionally, it mandates social media platforms to maintain transparency in their operations by publishing standards for content moderation and informing users about algorithmic functions that affect their content visibility.

Contention

Notable points of contention surrounding HB3105 revolve around concerns regarding censorship and the potential overreach of government regulation on private enterprises. Critics argue that while the bill's intentions may be to protect users, its provisions could inadvertently stifle free speech and allow for government interference in how private companies operate. Additionally, there is worry that the bill's requirements could impose significant compliance burdens on smaller platforms, potentially limiting competition in the market.