PRINTER'S NO. 3556
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. 2529
Session of
2024
INTRODUCED BY TOMLINSON, WHITE, HOGAN, M. MACKENZIE,
R. MACKENZIE, KAUFFMAN, MARCELL, HEFFLEY, NEILSON, BANTA,
SMITH, STAATS, M. JONES, JOZWIAK, CIRESI, GILLEN AND ROWE,
AUGUST 12, 2024
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY, AUGUST 12, 2024
AN ACT
1 Amending Title 18 (Crimes and Offenses) of the Pennsylvania
2 Consolidated Statutes, in computer offenses, providing for
3 social media platforms; and imposing a penalty.
4 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
5 hereby enacts as follows:
6 Section 1. Chapter 76 of Title 18 of the Pennsylvania
7 Consolidated Statutes is amended by adding a subchapter to read:
8 SUBCHAPTER F
9 SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS
10 Sec.
11 7671. Definitions.
12 7672. Unlawful use of social media platform.
13 § 7671. Definitions.
14 The following words and phrases when used in this subchapter
15 shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
16 context clearly indicates otherwise:
17 "Internet." As defined in section 7621 (relating to
 1 definitions).
2 "Social media platform." As follows:
3 (1) An Internet website or online or mobile application
4 that is open to the public, allows a user to create an
5 account and enables users to communicate with other users for
6 the primary purpose of posting information, comments,
7 messages or images.
8 (2) The term does not include:
9 (i) An Internet service provider as defined in
10 section 7621.
11 (ii) Email.
12 (iii) An online service, application or website:
13 (A) that consists primarily of news, sports,
14 entertainment or other information or content that is
15 not user generated but is preselected by the
16 provider; and
17 (B) for which chat, comments or interactive
18 functionality is incidental to, directly related to
19 or dependent on the provision of the content
20 described by clause (A).
21 "Use." To post, upload, transmit, share or otherwise publish
22 content through a social media platform.
23 § 7672. Unlawful use of social media platform.
24 (a) Offense defined.--A person commits a felony of the third
25 degree if the person uses a social media platform to commit or
26 cause or to aid, abet, entice or encourage another individual to
27 commit a crime that constitutes a felony under this title.
28 (b) Separate offenses.--Each instance in which a social
29 media platform is utilized in violation of subsection (a)
30 constitutes a separate offense under this section.
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1 (c) Penalty.--A person who violates this section shall, upon
2 conviction, be sentenced to pay a fine of not more than $15,000
3 or to imprisonment for not more than seven years, or both.
4 Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
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Statutes/Laws affected:
Printer's No. 3556: 18-76