Establishes provisions relating to civil liability for publishing or distributing material harmful to minors on the internet
Impact
If enacted, this law would mean that any commercial entity knowingly or intentionally distributing harmful material could face civil liability for damages resulting from minors accessing that content. This introduces a new layer of accountability for online platform operators and could lead to significant changes in how they manage and monitor content available to users, particularly minors. Entities will now have a legal obligation to implement age verification methods effective enough to prevent underage access.
Summary
House Bill 1426 aims to create provisions relating to civil liability for entities that publish or distribute material harmful to minors over the internet. The bill establishes a new section in Chapter 537 of the Revised Statutes of Missouri that introduces specific definitions, such as 'material harmful to minors' and 'interactive computer service.' The legislation requires commercial entities to verify the age of individuals attempting to access this questionable material, mandating that only those who are eighteen years or older can do so.
Contention
The bill may spark debate regarding the balance between protecting minors from harmful material and potential overreach into the realm of free speech on the internet. Proponents are likely to argue that it is essential for safeguarding the wellbeing of young users online, while critics might raise concerns over how broadly 'harmful material' could be defined, potentially leading to censorship of legitimate content. Furthermore, the practicality and effectiveness of age verification methods may also be scrutinized, considering the existing challenges in accurately verifying online identities.