STATEMENT OF PURPOSE
RS30913C1 / S1222
The proposed legislation seeks to fulfill the Government’s compelling interest in protecting children from
exposure to harmful material online, and from being groomed by the use of the material into sexual
exploitation, abuse, and sex trafficking, while not overburdening Free Speech. This is accomplished by
requiring manufacturers of smartphones and tablets to enable existing filters for Idaho’s children. The filters
are already there but defaulted to "off." This legislation simply asks manufacturers to turn them only for
children. This legislation recognizes the serious harm that comes to children from online pornography
exposure and leverages existing technology to empower all Idaho parents to remove this detrimental content
from their child’s devices. This bill follows the filtering roadmap approved by the Supreme Court in Ashcroft
v. ACLU, 542 U.S. 656, 670 (2004). Without this legislation it is not possible for all Idaho parents to
effectively protect their children from the massive amounts of harmful material inundating them online due
to complexity and lack of education. By placing internet filtering requirements at the device level during
activation, we automate and simplify an unnecessarily complicated process as the devices move in and out of
different Internet networks.
FISCAL NOTE
There is no fiscal impact to the General Fund, because parents have the ability to turn off the filters upon
activation.
Contact:
Senator Kevin Cook
(208) 332-1333
DISCLAIMER: This statement of purpose and fiscal note are a mere attachment to this bill and prepared by a proponent
of the bill. It is neither intended as an expression of legislative intent nor intended for any use outside of the legislative
process, including judicial review (Joint Rule 18).
Statement of Purpose / Fiscal Note Bill SOP/FN INTRODUCED: 01/15/2024, 9:16 AM