Technology (Social Media)

in committee · Texas · House May 10, 2025

HB 1080: Relating to the publication of required notice by a political subdivision by alternative media.

HB 1080 allows Texas cities, counties, and other local governments to publish required public notices (like meeting schedules or public hearings) using alternative media - such as social media, free newspapers, utility bills, or homeowners' association newsletters - instead of traditional newspapers. To qualify, local governments must first hold a public meeting to prove the alternative media has greater circulation than the top local newspaper, then submit specific details (including circulation numbers) to the state comptroller. The comptroller will publish the notice on their website unless they determine the alternative method doesn’t meet the circulation standard or grant a waiver. This bill modernizes notice requirements while maintaining transparency through mandatory public input and state oversight.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill explicitly permits using internet/social media for public notices, promoting digital communication channels per subjects list (INTERNET S0130).90% confidence

Sub-Topics Social Media

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signed · Texas · Senate Jun 20, 2025

SB 2373: Relating to financial exploitation or financial abuse using artificially generated media or phishing communications; providing a civil penalty; creating a criminal offense.

This bill creates new civil remedies for victims of financial exploitation using AI-generated media (like deepfakes) or phishing communications. It allows individuals to sue perpetrators for actual damages - including mental anguish and the perpetrator's profits - and to seek court orders halting further dissemination. The bill also imposes a civil penalty of up to $1,000 per day for violations, enforceable by the Texas Attorney General. Platforms like social media companies are exempt from liability under this law, as they are protected by federal Section 230.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill creates civil remedies against AI deepfake financial exploitation, strengthening consumer protection and data privacy under Texas law.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Artificial Intelligence Social Media

passed · Texas · House May 19, 2025

HB 3694: Relating to the unlawful production or distribution of certain sexually explicit media and to the removal of certain intimate visual depictions published on online platforms without the consent of the person depicted; increasing criminal penalties.

HB 3694, known as the Exploitation Protection Act, prohibits the non-consensual production and distribution of intimate visual depictions (such as photos or videos of a person in a private moment) and requires online platforms to remove such content upon request. It directly affects platforms hosting user-generated content (like social media sites) by mandating a clear process for victims to report unauthorized intimate images, while excluding email and pre-selected content platforms. The bill also increases criminal penalties for violating these provisions, making non-consensual sharing a more serious offense. This law aims to protect individuals from exploitation by holding platforms accountable for removing unauthorized intimate content.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeProtects victims' rights by criminalizing non-consensual sharing and requiring platform removal, aligning with civil rights protection in criminal justice.90% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyMandates platforms to remove non-consensual intimate content, requiring proactive privacy protections for users and aligning with data privacy regulations for tech platforms.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Human Trafficking Social Media

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passed · Texas · Senate May 22, 2025

SB 2637: Relating to disclosures about certain automated posts on social media platforms; providing a civil penalty.

SB 2637 requires social media platforms to disclose when content is posted by automated accounts (bots) that mimic human activity. Platforms must display a clear notice stating the content was posted by a bot and warn that such content may contain misinformation. Violations carry a civil penalty of up to $7,500 per offense, enforceable by the Texas Attorney General. The law directly affects social media companies operating in Texas and takes effect September 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyRequires social media platforms to disclose bot-generated content and warn about misinformation, regulating tech companies for consumer protection.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Social Media

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in committee · Texas · House Mar 27, 2025

HB 4087: Relating to censorship of or certain other interference with digital expression, including expression on social media platforms or through electronic mail messages.

HB 4087 clarifies Texas's existing social media regulation law (H.B. 20) by defining "social media platform" to exclude internet service providers and email services. It specifies that the law applies to platforms acting as common carriers for public forums, not to email or internet infrastructure. The bill aims to ensure social media platforms comply with H.B. 20's requirement to avoid viewpoint-based censorship on public forums. It directly affects major social media platforms operating in Texas, requiring them to follow the existing law's provisions. The bill is currently in the State Affairs committee for review.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyClarifies social media regulation to prevent viewpoint-based censorship, aligning with digital rights protection under Texas law H.B. 20.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Social Media

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in committee · Texas · House Mar 27, 2025

HB 3950: Relating to digital replication rights in the voice and visual likeness of individuals; providing private causes of action; authorizing a fee.

HB 3950 creates a legal right for individuals to control digital copies of their voice or visual likeness. It allows people to sue companies that make realistic digital replicas (like AI-generated videos or audio) without permission, covering both living and deceased individuals. The law applies to online platforms such as social media and music services, and includes a fee for filing such lawsuits. This directly affects all Texans whose voice or image could be digitally replicated without consent.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyCreates legal right to control digital likeness replication, enabling lawsuits for unauthorized AI use, directly protecting personal data privacy per bill's summary and subjects.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Artificial Intelligence Social Media

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in committee · Texas · House Apr 1, 2025

HB 4338: Relating to the use of safety management software for children on large social media platforms.

HB 4338, or "Sammy's Law," requires large social media platforms to create real-time data connections (APIs) allowing parents or legal guardians to delegate account management for children under 17 to third-party safety software providers. These APIs must enable the software to monitor for harmful content like cyberbullying, trafficking, or illegal activity while securely handling user data. Platforms must also disclose to parents and children when data is shared and summarize the transferred information. The Texas Department of Information Resources will oversee compliance, set standards, and conduct audits to ensure platforms follow these requirements.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyMandates secure APIs for parental oversight of minors' social media, requiring data monitoring for safety while protecting privacy and disclosing data sharing - aligns with data privacy regulation and child safety protections.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Online Safety Social Media

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signed · Texas · House Jun 20, 2025

HB 783: Relating to civil liability for online impersonation.

HB 783 creates civil liability for intentional online impersonation in Texas, defining it as using someone's name, voice, signature, photo, or likeness on social media without consent (or with a minor's guardian's consent). It allows affected individuals to sue for actual damages - including counseling or identity theft costs - and minimum $500 punitive damages if the impersonation was done with intent to harm, defraud, intimidate, or threaten. The law excludes liability for satire or parody (Sec. 98C.004(b)) and preserves Section 230 protections for social media platforms (Sec. 98C.003). It applies to private individuals, not law enforcement acting in investigations, and became effective September 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyEnables civil action for unauthorized online impersonation, strengthening personal data privacy protections in digital spaces per bill's liability framework.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Social Media

signed · Texas · Senate Jun 20, 2025

SB 441: Relating to criminal and civil liability related to sexually explicit media and artificial intimate visual material; creating a criminal offense; increasing a criminal penalty.

SB 441 creates civil liability for producing, soliciting, disclosing, or promoting AI-generated intimate visual material without a person's consent and with intent to harm. It specifically targets material that reveals the depicted person's identity (e.g., through facial recognition or unique features) and requires proof of actual harm. The law holds both creators of the material and owners of websites/social media platforms liable if they fail to remove such content after notice. This directly affects individuals whose images are used without consent in AI-generated intimate content, providing a legal path to seek damages for the harm caused.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeCreates criminal liability for non-consensual AI intimate material targeting sexual crimes (Crimes--Against Persons--Sexual), protecting victims and strengthening legal remedies in criminal justice.90% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill imposes civil liability for non-consensual AI-generated intimate content, directly protecting personal data privacy under AI regulation and aligning with privacy-focused subjects.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Artificial Intelligence Emerging Technology Social Media

in committee · Texas · Senate Feb 28, 2025

SB 1298: Relating to instruction in online safety for minors provided in public schools and by the Department of Public Safety.

SB 1298 requires Texas public school districts (K-12) to include online safety instruction as part of their required curriculum, starting in the 2025-2026 school year. The curriculum must cover specific topics like safe social media use, preventing oversharing of personal information, identifying cyberbullying and online predators, and reporting suspicious activity. Additionally, the Texas Department of Public Safety must develop a public safety education plan that includes online safety instruction for citizens under 18. The bill specifies these exact topics for school curricula and references existing law for further detail.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates online safety curriculum in K-12 schools, strengthening educational requirements for student safety and digital literacy as part of core curriculum.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyRequires online safety curriculum covering cybersecurity awareness, data privacy protection, and digital rights education for minors, directly advancing cybersecurity and digital safety education.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum K-12 Education School Safety Data Privacy Online Safety Social Media

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