Washington – The Computer & Communications Industry Association provided testimony to members of Alaska’s House Labor & Commerce Committee in opposition to proposed policy related to children’s online safety. CCIA outlined concerns with age verification requirements, lack of individual control over available content, and lack of clarity for businesses on how to comply.
CCIA supports enhanced privacy protections for children and teens online, but has concerns with certain measures creating additional data collection requirements and associated privacy concerns. CCIA also encourages lawmakers to ensure any proposed protections do not inadvertently prevent younger users from accessing information and communities of support.
The following can be attributed to CCIA State Policy Director Khara Boender:
“We understand and share the goal of protecting the safety of young people online and would encourage policymakers to resist enacting legislation that is not adequately tailored to this objective. We respectfully urge Alaskan lawmakers to fully examine the potential impacts of pursuing such an approach and work with stakeholders and industry to develop effective approaches to protect younger users while also preserving existing protections and access to beneficial information and services.”