Annapolis, MD – The Computer & Communications Industry Association will testify today before Maryland House committees on three bills addressing online content involving children, election-related deceptive media, and the use of artificial intelligence and automation in the workforce. CCIA supports policies that protect individuals, voters, and workers, but is urging lawmakers to amend or reject proposals that place unworkable obligations on online services, conflict with existing federal frameworks, or risk discouraging innovation and investment.
CCIA will testify in opposition to HB 21 unless it is amended, citing concerns that the bill would require social media platforms to permanently delete content at the request of third parties. As drafted, the proposal would place platforms in the role of resolving private disputes involving family relationships, contracts, copyright, and constitutional speech rights, often years after content was posted. CCIA notes that the bill’s goal of protecting children who appear in monetized online content can be achieved more effectively by placing deletion obligations on the individual who created and controlled the content, rather than on the platform that hosted it.
The association will also testify in support of HB 145 with amendments. CCIA agrees that individuals who intentionally create and distribute materially deceptive political media, including election-related deepfakes, should be held accountable through clear disclosure requirements. However, CCIA cautions that liability must be limited to bad actors themselves and not extend to intermediaries that merely host or transmit third-party content. The association is urging lawmakers to ensure the bill aligns with longstanding federal protections and includes clear exemptions for cybersecurity, antifraud, and investigative activities.
In addition, CCIA will testify in opposition to HB 314, warning that the bill would penalize employers for adopting productivity-enhancing technologies such as artificial intelligence. The proposal would impose new automation assessments based on workforce reductions, despite the reality that job changes often result from a combination of factors. CCIA cautions that the bill would duplicate existing requirements, create legal uncertainty, increase compliance costs, and make Maryland less competitive, without delivering meaningful benefits to displaced workers. CCIA supports collaborative, incentive-based approaches that promote workforce retraining and adaptation without punishing innovation or discouraging investment.
The following statement can be attributed to Megan Stokes, State Policy Director for CCIA, who will testify on the bills today:
“Maryland lawmakers are grappling with complex and fast-moving technology issues, and it’s important that new policies are carefully tailored to avoid unintended consequences. We support holding bad actors accountable and protecting individuals and voters, but some of these proposals place unworkable responsibilities on online services or risk discouraging the very innovation that drives economic growth. We look forward to working with lawmakers on solutions that protect people, respect constitutional and federal frameworks, and support workers without undermining progress.”
