88R7739 MLH-D
By: Campos H.B. No. 1594
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the duties of social media companies regarding
prostitution and trafficking of persons; creating a criminal
offense.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Title 99, Business & Commerce Code, is amended by
adding Chapter 2005 to read as follows:
CHAPTER 2005. DUTIES OF SOCIAL MEDIA COMPANY REGARDING
PROSTITUTION AND TRAFFICKING OF PERSONS
Sec. 2005.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:
(1) "Social media company" means a business entity
that provides or operates a social media website.
(2) "Social media website" means an interactive
Internet website or application that enables multiple users to
communicate with other users by posting, creating, sharing, or
viewing content, including instant messages, blogs, information,
comments, videos, and images. The term includes Facebook,
Instagram, and Twitter.
Sec. 2005.002. PROSTITUTION AND TRAFFICKING OF PERSONS ON
SOCIAL MEDIA WEBSITES. (a) A social media company may not allow a
person to use the company's social media website for engaging in
conduct that constitutes an offense under Chapter 20A, Penal Code,
or Subchapter A, Chapter 43, Penal Code.
(b) A social media company that discovers a person is using
the company's social media website to engage in conduct described
by Subsection (a) shall:
(1) preserve the offending content;
(2) notify the appropriate law enforcement authority;
(3) remove the offending content from being publicly
accessible; and
(4) either:
(A) suspend the account to which the content was
posted; or
(B) issue a warning to the account holder that
posted the content.
(c) A social media company commits an offense if the company
violates this section. An offense under this subsection is a Class
A misdemeanor except that the offense is a state jail felony if the
conduct is committed intentionally or knowingly.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.