Bill > HR1623

This bill, known as the SCREEN Act (Shielding Children's Retinas from Egregious Exposure on the Net Act), aims to protect minors from accessing online pornographic content by requiring interactive computer services to implement robust age verification technologies. The legislation mandates that covered platforms (online services engaged in interstate commerce that host or create content considered harmful to minors) adopt technology verification measures to ensure users are not minors within one year of the Act's enactment. These verification measures must go beyond simple age confirmation checkboxes and employ more sophisticated methods to determine a user's age, with platforms required to publicly disclose their verification processes and protect user data. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) will be responsible for enforcing these requirements, conducting regular audits of covered platforms, and issuing guidance on compliance. The bill is motivated by research showing that a significant percentage of minors are exposed to online pornography and that previous methods like blocking and filtering software have proven ineffective. Additionally, the legislation requires the Government Accountability Office to submit a report two years after implementation analyzing the effectiveness of these age verification measures, their compliance rates, data security practices, and potential societal impacts. Violations of the Act will be treated as unfair or deceptive practices under the Federal Trade Commission Act, with corresponding penalties and enforcement mechanisms.

Business and Industry

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/1623/all-info