HB 18 also known as Securing Children Online Through Parental Empowerment Act or just The SCOPE Act is an American law in Texas. The law requires internet platforms to verify the age of a parent or guardian of accounts if they are signed in as under 18. It also requires parental consent before collecting the data on minors under 18 years of age. Which is an increase from the age set at the federal level under COPPA which is 13. It also requires platforms to block and filter if the content promotes suicide, self-harm, eating disorders, substance abuse, stalking, bullying, or harassment, or grooming.[1][2][3][4][5]

SCOPE Act
Texas Legislature
  • an act relating to the protection of minors from harmful, deceptive, or unfair trade practices in connection with the use of certain digital services and electronic devices, including the use and transfer of electronic devices to students by a public school.
Territorial extentState of Texas
Enacted bySeptember 1, 2024
EnactedJune 13, 2023
Legislative history
IntroducedFebruary 16, 2023
First readingMay 4, 2023
Second readingMay 23, 2023
Third readingMay 23, 2023
Status: Not fully in force

Lawsuit against the act

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CCIA & NetChoice v. Paxton

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On July 30, 2024, The trade associations The Computer and Communications Industry Association and NetChoice filed a lawsuit against Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton to the to block enforcement of the law to The Western District Court of Texas.[6] Judge Robert Pitman on August 30, 2024, blocked the block and filtering content requirements of the law. However, let the rest of the law take effect as the Plaintiffs didn't show evidence that the other parts of the law were unconstitutional.[7][8][9]

Students Engaged in Advancing Texas et al v. Paxton

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On August 16, 2024, FIRE helped 4 plaintiffs to sue the Attorney General Ken Paxton. alleging that the law violated the first amendment.[10][11]

Lawsuits enforcing the act

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Texas v. TikTok

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On October 3, 2024 Ken Paxton sued TikTok for violating The SCOPE Act demanding a trial and for penalties of up to 10,000 dollars per violation. TikTok denies that it violated the law.[12][13][14][15]

References

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