Texas House Bill HCR54

Texas 2009 - 81st Regular

• Introduced: 2/18/09
• Refer: 2/23/09
• Report Pass: 3/9/09
• Refer: 5/21/09

Caption

Urging the United States Congress to enact legislation facilitating a technology-based solution that allows consumers to subscribe to Internet services that exclude adult content.

Impact

The resolution emphasizes that existing attempts by Congress to protect minors from harmful online sexual material have been insufficient. Notably, previous legislative efforts like the Communications Decency Act and the Child Online Protection Act faced legal challenges that rendered them ineffective. By calling for a legislative framework that includes technological solutions, HCR54 aims to create better mechanisms for parents to protect their children from unsolicited explicit content while using the Internet.

Summary

HCR54 is a concurrent resolution that urges the United States Congress to enact legislation that facilitates a technology-based solution, enabling consumers to subscribe to Internet services that exclude adult content. This resolution acknowledges the significant risk the Internet poses to children and youth, who represent a large portion of its users. It highlights that despite parents attempting to regulate their children's Internet access, the overwhelming availability of pornography online makes it nearly impossible for parental oversight or commonly used filters to be fully effective against exposure to inappropriate material.

Conclusion

If enacted, this resolution would encourage Congress to explore and potentially implement legislation that better equips families to manage Internet content access. A successful legislative outcome would represent a significant step in addressing the ongoing issue of children's exposure to harmful online material. Overall, HCR54 reflects an urgent call to action for better protective measures in the rapidly evolving landscape of the digital age.

Contention

One of the notable points of contention surrounding HCR54 is the argument that Congress should take responsibility for improving the current state of Internet safety for children. The resolution contrasts the reliance on private self-regulation by Internet service providers with the necessity for a structured federal solution. Concerns may arise regarding the feasibility and implications of such government-mandated controls, especially concerning freedom of access and privacy issues.