Utah Governor Signs Bill Mandating Pornography Filters on Tech Devices
The governor of Utah signed a bill Tuesday requiring pornography filters on smartphones and tablets.
Gov. Spencer Cox (R) approved the legislation just days after lawmakers passed the bill, H.B. 72, which specifies that, when a device is activated in Utah, it must “automatically enable a filter of blocking material that is harmful to minors,” according to CBN News.
The filter is designed to “prevent the user of the device from accessing material that is harmful to minors on the device,” the bill states. It also enables “certain users to deactivate the filter for the device or for specific content” as well as to “notify the user when content is filtered.”
Cox said the measure sends an “important message” about keeping children from accessing explicit content on the internet, The Associated Press reported reported. It’s worth noting, though, the bill cannot take effect unless five other states enact similar legislation, a provision added to curb concerns that the measure would be too difficult to implement in Utah alone.
State Rep. Susan Pulsipher (R), the bill’s sponsor, said she is “grateful” the governor signed the proposal, which she argued will protect children from pornography and is not a constitutional violation because adults — and parents — can freely deactivate the content filter.
Some, though, don’t agree.
Read the rest of the story from our content partners at Faithwire here. {eoa}
Follow breaking news like this and more in our new platform, CHARISMA PLUS.
