Louisiana lawmakers on Tuesday passed a bill that, if signed, would restrict people under the age of 18 from creating profiles with online services without parental or guardian consent. Bill HB61It now goes to Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards for final approval. If he signs into the bill, it will go into effect on August 1, 2024.
The bill states that no “interactive computer service” can enter into an agreement with a minor without the consent of a guardian. However, an interactive computer service is a broad term that can include any online service that requires a person to log into an account, such as an online video game profile or an email account.
The bill would also allow parents to retroactively cancel any terms-of-service contracts the minor has already signed with online services. But this only reinforces Louisiana Civil Codewhich already allows the guardian to cancel a contract held by a minor.
However, some critics say the bill is too broad and could have unintended consequences. Servando Esparza, CEO of tech industry group TechNet, posted on Twitter that HB61 could put people’s privacy at risk.
As I said to @employeeLouisiana HB61 could compromise privacy and lead to unintended consequences. We appreciate that the bill has been amended in the Senate to require a study of the effect of the law before it goes into effect.https://t.co/vbJmTZjAIk
– TechNet – Texas & Southeast (TechNetSE) June 8, 2023
The governor’s office did not immediately respond to CNET’s request for comment.
The passage of this law comes a few weeks after the United States The Surgeon General issued a consultation about effects Social media on youth mental health.
“Children are exposed to harmful content on social media, ranging from violent and sexual content, to bullying and harassment,” US Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy said in a press release. “We are in the midst of a national youth mental health crisis, and I am concerned that social media is an important driver of that crisis — one that we must urgently address.”
If HB61 becomes law, Louisiana will join states like Arkansas And Utahwhich has passed similar bills that require minors to obtain guardian consent before creating social media accounts.
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