Texas House Bill HB2266

Texas 2017 - 85th Regular

Caption

Relating to requiring certain retailers to ensure that certain products sold or leased by the retailers contain a digital blocking capability that renders obscene material inaccessible; creating a criminal offense.

Impact

The passage of HB 2266 would significantly alter the retail landscape in Texas, mandating that all consumer-facing digital products come equipped with the necessary filtering technologies. Retailers who fail to comply would face civil actions from consumers and criminal charges, including Class A misdemeanors for violations involving consumers under 18. The bill establishes a framework for the enforcement of these provisions, allowing the Attorney General or local judicial authorities to seek injunctions and penalize non-compliant retailers, thereby promoting a broader societal objective of protecting minors and vulnerable individuals from harmful content online.

Summary

House Bill 2266 requires certain retailers to ensure that products sold or leased contain digital blocking capabilities that render obscene material inaccessible. The bill specifically mentions the responsibility of retailers to implement effective filtering systems that block access to child pornography, revenge pornography, and websites associated with prostitution and human trafficking. Retailers are prohibited from selling such products without the digital blocking feature, aimed at enhancing consumer protection from exposure to obscene content online.

Contention

Proponents of the bill argue that it is a necessary step towards safeguarding the youth from inappropriate online material and fighting against human trafficking. However, critics may assert that it imposes undue burdens on retailers and may interfere with consumer rights by restricting access to certain types of content, even for adults who may wish to bypass the blocking capability. The required $20 deactivation fee could also be a point of contention for consumers who may not appreciate the additional cost to opt out of the filtering technology, raising questions about accessibility and consumer choice in digital product use.