Technology (Social Media)

SB 2831 would allow Mississippi counties and municipalities to publish required public notices online via their official websites or social media platforms instead of using traditional newspapers. The bill amends multiple sections of state law (including notice requirements for bond issuances and public sales) to replace "newspaper publication" with "posting on a county or municipality website or official social media page." This change directly affects local governments responsible for publishing legal notices, such as those related to jail construction bonds or bond sales. The key mechanism is updating notice publication methods to modernize the process, reducing costs and increasing accessibility for residents. The bill died in committee in February 2025 and did not become law.

HB 1511 allows Mississippi counties and municipalities to publish certain official notices on their websites or social media instead of in newspapers, modernizing notice requirements. It specifically amends multiple statutes to permit digital publication for most notices (like bond resolutions and contracts), while maintaining the newspaper requirement only for tax levy notices. The bill requires local governments to use their official website or social media if they have one, but still mandates newspaper publication for tax-related notices. This change aims to reduce costs and improve accessibility for public notices.

HB 808 requires Mississippi public school districts and charter schools to adopt internet safety policies that block student access to social media during instructional time (except when teachers direct it for lessons) and prohibit TikTok and similar platforms on school devices. It also mandates that schools provide curriculum for grades 6-12 about social media's impacts on mental health, misinformation, and online safety. The bill updates student conduct codes to explicitly ban wireless device use during class without teacher permission and requires schools to notify parents about available online safety resources. These changes directly affect all K-12 students, teachers, and school administrators in Mississippi public and charter schools.

SB 2437, the "Prohibition of Exploitation by Deepfakes Act," would have prohibited platforms from knowingly publishing non-consensual intimate visual depictions (like AI-altered sexual images) of identifiable people without their consent, unless specific exceptions apply. It required covered platforms (like social media sites) to remove such content upon notification from the affected person and establish clear removal processes. The bill clarified that consent for creating an intimate image does not cover its publication, and threatened intentional harm through deepfakes would be punishable. This proposed law died in committee on February 4, 2025, and never became law.

HB 599 creates civil liability for commercial entities (like websites or platforms) that knowingly distribute child pornography or obscene material online. It allows individuals to sue these entities for damages up to $500,000, plus attorney fees, for publishing such content. The law explicitly exempts news organizations and internet service providers from liability for merely providing connectivity, not creating content. It also defines "material harmful to minors" and requires "reasonable age verification" methods to prevent minors' access. The bill takes effect July 1, 2025, after being signed by the governor on April 10, 2025.