Bill > H3251

This bill, titled "Relative to the online privacy of minors," amends Chapter 93 of the General Laws by adding a new section that grants minors, defined as individuals under 18 residing in the commonwealth, the right to remove or request the removal of content they posted online while they were minors. An "operator," which is the owner of a website or online service, must inform registered users about this removal right and provide clear instructions on how to exercise it. However, operators are not required to remove posts if federal or state law mandates their retention, if the post is anonymized, if the minor user fails to follow the removal instructions, or if the minor user received compensation for the post. Compliance can also be met by making the post no longer visible to other users, even if it remains on the operator's servers, or if the post remains visible due to third-party reposting. The bill clarifies that operators are not obligated to collect age information and that it does not limit law enforcement's ability to obtain posts as authorized by law or court order. Minors who believe their rights under this section have been violated can report it to the attorney general, who can take legal action to enforce the provisions.