The Protection of Minors from Unfiltered Devices Act mandates that manufacturers of Internet-enabled devices, such as tablets and smartphones, activate existing filters to restrict access to material deemed harmful to minors upon the device's activation in Alabama starting January 1, 2024. The bill defines key terms, including "filter," "harmful to minors," and "manufacturer," and outlines the responsibilities of manufacturers to ensure that their devices automatically enable these filters. The filters must prevent access to harmful content across various networks and notify users when access is blocked, while also allowing users with a password to unblock filtered sites.

Additionally, the bill establishes a cause of action for minors and their guardians against manufacturers if a device fails to comply with the filter requirements, allowing for the recovery of actual damages or liquidated damages of $50,000 per violation. The Attorney General is empowered to enforce the act, including the ability to impose civil penalties of up to $5,000 per violation and seek injunctions against violators. The act also clarifies that it does not create a cause of action against retailers and prohibits class action lawsuits. The bill will take effect three months after its passage and approval by the Governor.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 10A-1-5
Engrossed: 10A-1-5