Technology (Online Safety)

in committee · Texas · House Apr 3, 2025

HB 4456: Relating to requiring social media platforms to verify the age of account holders on the platform.

HB 4456 requires social media platforms to verify the age of Texas residents before they can create new accounts. Platforms must use reasonable methods (like public or private data) to confirm users are 18+ and cannot retain or misuse the personal information collected during verification. Parents or guardians can request deletion of a minor’s account within 10 days, and platforms must comply. The law takes effect January 1, 2026, applying only to new accounts created after that date, with violations treated as deceptive trade practices under Texas law.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyRequires age verification with data privacy safeguards and parental deletion rights, strengthening consumer protection for minors' digital data under technology regulation.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Consumer Data Protection Online Safety Social Media

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in committee · Texas · Senate Apr 3, 2025

SB 2787: Relating to digital citizenship and media literacy instruction in public schools and a public school policy regarding Internet safety.

SB 2787 requires Texas public school districts to incorporate digital citizenship and media literacy instruction for students in grades 6 through 12. The bill mandates curriculum covering social media impacts (including mental health effects and misinformation), online security, identifying credible sources, and respectful online discourse, with districts required to post materials online and notify parents. It also requires school districts to adopt Internet safety policies protecting students on school networks. This law directly affects all Texas public school students in middle and high school and their school districts. The policy changes focus on equipping students with practical skills for responsible online behavior through standardized curriculum requirements.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates digital citizenship curriculum for grades 6-12, enhancing media literacy, online safety, and critical thinking skills in public schools per bill requirements.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyMandates digital citizenship curriculum covering online security, misinformation, and respectful discourse, enhancing student cybersecurity awareness and digital literacy per bill's requirements.95% confidence

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

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in committee · Texas · Senate Apr 7, 2025

SB 2825: Relating to the essential knowledge and skills of the technology applications curriculum for public school students.

SB 2825 requires Texas public schools to include Internet safety and keyboard use in the technology curriculum for all K-8 students. It specifically prohibits the State Board of Education from including coding, computer programming, computational thinking, or cybersecurity in the curriculum for grades K-5, and limits the use of electronic devices or the Internet to only what's necessary for Internet safety or keyboard lessons. The bill also mandates that the State Board of Education review and update the curriculum every five years (with a first review due by December 2026) to ensure it remains relevant to student education and aligns with current or emerging careers. This law applies directly to public school technology education standards in Texas.

Topics ✗ EducationOpposes EducationProhibits coding/computing curriculum in K-5 and restricts device use to safety/keyboard lessons, limiting tech education scope per bill's explicit restrictions.95% confidence ✗ TechnologyOpposes TechnologyProhibits coding, programming, and cybersecurity in K-5 curriculum, restricting technology education content rather than supporting it.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum Cybersecurity Online Safety

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in committee · Texas · House Mar 20, 2025

HB 3160: Relating to Internet safety and technology protection policies in public schools and libraries.

HB 3160 requires Texas public school districts and open-enrollment charter schools to adopt internet safety policies that comply with federal law (Children's Internet Protection Act) and mandate vendors to certify they won't provide obscene or harmful content to minors. It also requires schools to create a public process for reporting and responding to internet safety concerns, with annual reports submitted to the education agency. Public libraries must adopt similar policies protecting minors accessing online resources, including vendor certifications. Non-compliant school districts face withheld state funding under Chapters 46 and 48 until they meet the requirements.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates internet safety policies to protect minors in schools/libraries, aligning with protective measures for educational safety and minors' health.85% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyMandates schools/libraries to adopt policies blocking harmful online content for minors, enhancing cybersecurity and digital safety protections per federal standards.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Libraries School Safety Online Safety

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passed · Texas · House Apr 30, 2025

HB 421: Relating to the creation of certain explicit deep fake material; providing a private cause of action.

HB 421 creates new rules for deep fake generators (websites/apps that let users create AI-generated images/videos). It requires age verification before making explicit deep fakes (depicting real people in sexual or intimate acts), bans creation for anyone under 18, and mandates written consent from people 18+ depicted. Victims or their guardians can sue generators for damages, including mental anguish, attorney fees, and punitive damages. The law directly affects deep fake platforms and individuals whose images are used without consent, particularly minors and those targeted with non-consensual explicit content. It takes effect September 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyMandates consent for deep fakes and allows lawsuits, protecting individuals from non-consensual AI-generated content, aligning with consumer protection and data privacy regulations.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Artificial Intelligence Online Safety

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passed · Texas · Senate May 25, 2025

SB 2881: Relating to the access and communications settings for accounts of minor users of digital services.

This bill requires digital service providers (like social media platforms) to set default privacy and usage settings for accounts of known minor users (under 18). Default settings include limiting daily usage to one hour, blocking unsolicited messages from strangers, preventing comments/reactions on minors' posts, hiding friend lists publicly, and disabling algorithmic content suggestions. Verified parents can adjust these settings using provided parental tools to control privacy, usage time, and financial transactions. The law directly affects digital services used by minors and their parents in Texas.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyRequires default privacy settings for minors on digital services, protecting data privacy and safety per bill's mandate.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Digital Government Online Safety Social Media

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passed · Texas · House May 27, 2025

HB 186: Relating to prohibiting use of social media platforms by children.

HB 186 prohibits children under 18 from using social media platforms in Texas, subject to federal law. The bill defines "social media platform" to exclude email, internet service providers, news websites, and interactive gaming platforms. Social media platforms must verify users are 18 or older before account creation using a reasonable method relying on public or private data, then delete all verification information immediately. This law directly affects children under 18 and social media companies operating in Texas.

Topics ✗ TechnologyOpposes TechnologyRestricts social media access for minors, limiting technology use directly. Not about data privacy but access control, aligning with 'limit' indicator.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Online Safety Social Media

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signed · Texas · House Jun 20, 2025

HB 581: Relating to the creation of artificial sexual material harmful to minors.

HB 581 requires websites and apps that let users create AI-generated sexual content resembling real people (e.g., using facial features or birthmarks) to verify users are 18+ before access. It directly affects commercial platforms offering these tools, such as AI content generators. The law mandates age verification using government ID, digital ID, or approved commercial systems, but prohibits retaining personal user data. These rules apply to platforms enabling creation of material defined as "harmful to minors" under Texas law, effective September 1, 2025.

Topics ✗ TechnologyOpposes TechnologyRestricts AI content platforms via mandatory age verification for explicit material, limiting harmful tech use while protecting minors.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Artificial Intelligence Online Safety