Tennessee Senate Bill SB1792

Tennessee 2023-2024 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/22/24
• Engrossed: 4/9/24
• Enrolled: 4/29/24
• Passed: 5/28/24
• Chaptered: 5/31/24

Caption

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 39, Chapter 17 and Title 47, relative to the Protect Tennessee Minors Act.

Impact

The bill establishes criminal liability for entities that fail to comply with its requirements, classifying violations as a Class C felony. It also allows the Attorney General to take legal action against non-compliant entities. This legislation could significantly impact how internet content is managed within Tennessee, mandating that website operators take proactive measures to restrict access to minors. The bill aims at bolstering protections for children online but raises concerns regarding the feasibility and privacy implications of such stringent regulations.

Summary

Senate Bill 1792, also known as the 'Protect Tennessee Minors Act', aims to amend Tennessee Code by instituting strict age-verification requirements for websites that publish content deemed harmful to minors. The legislation outlines the obligations of commercial entities to ensure that users accessing such content are verified as being over the age of eighteen. Specifically, it requires that these entities implement reasonable age-verification methods and retain anonymized data relating to this verification for a minimum of seven years.

Sentiment

The sentiment around SB 1792 appears to be mixed. Proponents express strong support, highlighting the importance of preventing minors from accessing inappropriate material online. They see the legislation as a necessary step for child protection in the digital age. Conversely, critics argue that the bill may infringe upon the rights of website owners and lead to overzealous regulation of online content, raising questions about the practicality of enforcing such age-verification processes without compromising user privacy.

Contention

Notable points of contention include discussions about the distinction between harmful content and legitimate information accessible to minors, as well as the technological feasibility of effectively implementing the required age-verification methods. Critics also point out that the definition of 'harmful content' might be overly broad, potentially impacting educational resources and other benign material accessible to younger audiences. This debate encapsulates larger societal concerns regarding the intersection of child safety and digital rights.