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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2023 - 2024
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | June 7, 2023 10:21 AM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Jim Gregory |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Smart device filter for minors |
| In the near future, I plan on re-introducing legislation (former HB2865) that would require new smart phones and tablets activated in the Commonwealth to have a filter enabled that would protect children from finding harmful material online. There have been numerous studies performed that have shown the harmful effects that pornographic material has on children. Accessing this material at such a vulnerable age has been shown to have a clear detriment to children with a lasting impact as they continue through puberty and into their adult lives. It is clear that we must act to better protect our children from the harm that comes from accessing explicit material at an early age. Smart phone and tablet manufacturers already have the technology to filter out materials that are deemed harmful. This legislation would simply require those filters to be switched “on” at the time of activation. These filters can easily be disabled by adults and would not infringe on any rights of the consumer. Utah was the first state to pass this landmark legislation in 2021. Their legislation included a section that required at least five other states to enact similar legislation before the law became effective. A handful of other states have also introduced legislation to implement this important protection for children. I propose that Pennsylvania step up and pass similar protections. Please join me in co-sponsoring this important legislation. |
Introduced as HB1501