Washington – The Computer & Communications Industry Association will testify today before the Idaho Senate Committee on State Affairs in opposition to H 542, the “Stop Harms from Addictive Social Media Act,” legislation that would impose sweeping restrictions on social media services and require age verification and parental consent for users under 16.
CCIA supports efforts to improve online safety for young users and notes that technology companies already provide a range of parental controls and safety tools that allow families to manage children’s online experiences. However, the association warns that H 542 raises serious constitutional, privacy, and operational concerns that could ultimately harm Idaho residents and businesses.
In testimony before the committee, CCIA will emphasize that the bill’s requirements would likely restrict lawful speech online and conflict with established First Amendment precedent recognizing that minors have their own rights to access information. The association also noted that mandates requiring “verifiable parental consent” and other design restrictions could force companies to suppress lawful content or alter how they present information to users.
CCIA will also raise concerns that the bill’s age verification provisions could require the collection of sensitive personal information such as government identification or biometric data, increasing privacy and cybersecurity risks for users of all ages. In addition, the legislation’s broad definitions and private right of action could create significant legal uncertainty and invite costly litigation against online services.
The following statement can be attributed to Aodhan Downey, State Policy Manager at CCIA, who testified before the Idaho Senate Committee on State Affairs:
“Everyone shares the goal of keeping kids safe online, and technology companies invest heavily in tools that help families manage their children’s digital experiences. H 542, however, takes an approach that raises serious constitutional and privacy concerns. Requiring broad age verification and parental consent mandates could force companies to collect more sensitive personal data while also restricting young people’s access to lawful information online. Policymakers should focus on solutions that empower families without undermining privacy or First Amendment protections.”
