Mar 24, 2023 19:00:00

Possibility that Apple and Samsung will censor adult content by default with the enactment of ``anti-pornography law''

In recent years, it has become a problem for children to access sexual content using smartphones and tablets, and in the state of Louisiana in the United States,

a law has been enacted that requires the presentation of identification such as a driver's license when viewing pornography. . Meanwhile, the `` anti-pornography bill '' under consideration in several states in the United States may force device makers such as Apple and Samsung to implement filters that censor adult content by default. Media outlet NBC News reports.

Anti-porn bills in 8 states could force device makers to censor sexual material
https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/security/porn-filter-laws-bills-anti-default-florida-texas-rcna73626

In recent years, surveys have shown that many children are watching adult content on smartphones, etc., but there is also a movement to regulate children's pornography viewing. In 2023, a bill called the `` Anti-Porn Law '' is being considered in Florida, South Carolina, Maryland, Tennessee, Iowa, Idaho, Texas, and Montana in the United States.

These bills would force smartphone and tablet makers to turn on sexual content censorship filters by default in web browsers and apps to prevent children from downloading adult content over the Internet. Device makers will face criminal and civil liability if they fail to automatically enable filters that meet 'industry standards.' A passcode is required to remove this filter, and it is prohibited for anyone other than the parent to provide the passcode to the child.

In addition, the anti-pornography law has already been enacted in Utah in 2021, but it seems that it will not come into effect unless five other states pass similar laws.

Although many device manufacturers implement adult content filters, many only work on web browsers and it is not common to turn them on by default across devices, including apps. However, on the iPhone, the standard message app provides a function to protect children from sexual content , and the filter mechanism itself in the app exists.

The National Sexual Exploitation Complaints Center , which drafted the anti-pornography law, told NBC News that the draft automatically turned on adult content filters in web browsers rather than individual apps running on devices. I think it was something I was asked to do.

But Chris McKenna, founder of child protection-focused advocacy group Protect Young Eyes , who also helped draft the bill, said the bill could also apply to filters that work across devices. I admitted.

Proponents of the bill argue that tech companies won't need to introduce new filters to regulate adult content, nor will they need to go through the hassles of verifying the age of users. However, it is said that it is difficult to understand how manufacturers should respond due to the fluctuation of wording in each state's bill.

For example, the Montana bill is written to suggest that manufacturers must verify the age of their users to avoid potential lawsuits and prosecutions. According to the bill, manufacturers are liable if 'they knowingly or inadvertently provide a passcode for unfiltering to a minor.'

Samir Jain, vice president of policy for the Center for Democracy and Technology , an advocacy group for digital rights and free expression, said the inclusion of language in the bill that would require age verification would prevent manufacturers from using their IDs. Pointed out that there is a possibility that the age of the user will be collected. This raises concerns about user privacy and data protection.

Jain also said the bill implementing device-level filtering raises concerns about freedom of expression. “It should be recognized that with current technology, such filters are far from perfect. No, but the bill excludes the latter from the scope of regulation.”“Therefore, mandating filtering would inevitably result in images and other content that even the drafters of the bill say should not be restricted. It will be taken away,' he said.