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WI AB730

WI AB730
The distribution of certain materials to minors.


summary

Introduced
12/06/2023
In Committee
02/19/2024
Crossed Over
02/15/2024
Passed
Dead
04/15/2024

Introduced Session

2023-2024 Regular Session

Bill Summary

This bill prohibits business entities from knowingly and intentionally publishing or distributing material harmful to minors on the Internet from a website that contains a substantial portion of such material, unless the business entity performs reasonable age verification methods to verify the age of individuals attempting to access the website. “Material harmful to minors” is defined in the bill to include material that is designed to appeal to prurient interests, that principally consists of descriptions or depictions of actual or simulated sexual acts or body parts including pubic areas, genitals, buttocks, and female nipples, and that lacks serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value for minors. In the bill, “reasonable age verification methods” includes various methods whereby the business entity may verify that an individual seeking to access the material is not a minor. Under the bill, persons that perform reasonable age verification methods may not knowingly retain identifying information of the individual attempting to access the website after the individual's access has been granted or denied. A person that violates the provisions of the bill may be subject to civil liability for damages caused by the violation.

AI Summary

This bill prohibits business entities from knowingly and intentionally publishing or distributing "material harmful to minors" on the internet from a website that contains a substantial portion of such material, unless the business entity performs reasonable age verification methods to verify the age of individuals attempting to access the website. "Material harmful to minors" is defined in the bill to include material that is designed to appeal to prurient interests, that principally consists of descriptions or depictions of actual or simulated sexual acts or body parts, and that lacks serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value for minors. The bill provides exceptions for news-gathering organizations and does not hold internet service providers or others responsible for providing access to such material if they are not responsible for creating the content. Individuals who are injured by a minor's access to the material or by a person's retention of identifying information in violation of the bill may bring a civil claim for damages.

Committee Categories

Health and Social Services, Justice

Sponsors (16)

Last Action

Failed to concur in pursuant to Senate Joint Resolution 1 (on 04/15/2024)

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