Bill > H3399

This bill establishes the "Children's Default to Safety Act" in South Carolina, which requires manufacturers of smart phones and tablets to automatically enable and passcode-protect content filters that block material harmful to minors on devices activated in the state starting January 1, 2026. The bill defines key terms such as "device" (tablets and smart phones), "filter" (software preventing access to inappropriate content), and "harmful to minors" (as defined in existing state law), and mandates that these devices must have filters that prevent access to inappropriate content on mobile data networks, manufacturer-owned applications, and internet networks. Manufacturers who fail to comply can face civil and criminal liability, including potential fines up to $50,000 and possible license revocation. The bill also makes it a criminal offense for anyone other than a parent or legal guardian to provide a passcode that removes these content filters, with potential fines up to $5,000 for a first offense and $50,000 for subsequent offenses, and possible jail time for repeat offenders. Parents or legal guardians are given the right to bring private legal action against manufacturers who do not comply with the filtering requirements or against individuals who provide filter-removal passcodes to minors.

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https://www.scstatehouse.gov/billsearch.php?billnumbers=3399&session=126&summary=B