The impact of SB961 extends to various stakeholders, including commercial entities, minors, and governmental organizations. By requiring age verification, the bill seeks to provide increased protection for minors against potentially harmful online content. It also creates a new fund, the 'Cyber Exploitation of Children Fund', which will be used to investigate cyber crimes related to child exploitation. This fund illustrates the state’s commitment to tackling cyber crimes, particularly those involving minors and harmful materials.
Senate Bill 961 aims to amend Chapter 407 of the Revised Statutes of Missouri by introducing new provisions specifically addressing materials harmful to minors. The bill defines 'material harmful to minors' and includes guidelines for age verification when such material is accessed online. SB961 mandates that commercial entities must verify that a person seeking to access harmful material is at least 18 years old before granting access. This requirement places a significant onus on businesses to implement age verification systems, which could involve using government-issued identification or other commercial methods of verification.
There are notable points of contention surrounding SB961, primarily related to the feasibility and implications of the age verification requirements. Critics may argue that the bill imposes unreasonable burdens on small businesses that may lack the resources to implement sophisticated age verification systems. Furthermore, there are concerns regarding privacy and data security associated with the collection of personal identification information for verification purposes. This could lead to debates on balancing the protection of minors with the rights of individuals and businesses, making the bill a contentious topic in legislative discussions.