Washington – The Computer & Communications Industry Association is urging Montana lawmakers to reject HB 408, citing significant concerns over the bill’s technical feasibility, legal risks, and unintended consequences for consumers and businesses alike.
As currently written, the bill would require a default content filter built into devices sold in Montana — a provision that overlooks how internet filtering typically functions and fails to account for the wide variety of internet-connected devices on the market. The bill also introduces sweeping liability based on unclear and subjective standards of what constitutes “obscene” content. CCIA advocates for policies that support innovation, preserve free expression, and promote user choice.
The following statement can be attributed to Aodhan Downey, State Policy Manager for CCIA:
“HB 408 presents serious technical and legal issues. Internet service providers, not device manufacturers, are the ones equipped to manage content access. Requiring a state-specific default filter not only creates unworkable compliance challenges but also leaves many devices — especially those without location-tracking or that are sold online — beyond the bill’s regulatory reach. What’s more, the bill imposes steep penalties based on vague determinations of obscenity, leaving businesses to either over-filter lawful content or face costly litigation.
“Rather than mandating flawed technical solutions, we urge lawmakers to empower parents and consumers to use existing tools — many of which already offer privacy protections, time limits, and site-specific blocking — to keep children safe online.”
