Technology (Social Media)

introduced · Montana · Legislature Feb 6, 2025

LC 676: Revise laws to protect children from obscene content through electronic devices

This Montana bill requires all smartphones and tablets activated in the state on or after January 1, 2026, to include built-in filters that block obscene content for users under 18. The law mandates that devices automatically enable these filters when a user indicates they are a minor during setup, while allowing adults to disable the filters with a password. Manufacturers face civil liability if their devices fail to include compliant filters and minors access obscene content, though parents and guardians are exempt from individual liability. The Attorney General can pursue penalties of up to $5,000 per violation and recover legal costs for enforcing these requirements.

Topics ✗ TechnologyOpposes TechnologyBill restricts technology use by mandating content filters on devices, limiting minors' access to internet content and imposing compliance requirements on manufacturers.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Online Safety Social Media

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Jan 23, 2025

LC 65: Establish laws related to a digital public square

This bill prohibits businesses and entities from banning or censoring users on free online platforms, which it defines as digital public squares. It requires these platforms to allow users to assemble and express speech without restrictions like shadow banning, algorithmic suppression, or throttling, unless state or federal laws are violated. The law allows platforms to terminate access entirely but forbids them from creating community standards or contracts that restrict user speech or content. Violations could result in users suing for actual and punitive damages, while advertising remains permitted as an exception to the restrictions.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill protects digital rights by preventing censorship and shadow banning on online platforms, enhancing user freedom of expression and digital equity.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Social Media

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Feb 24, 2025

LC 1729: Prohibit access to child pornography in Montana

This bill prohibits content providers from making child sexual abuse material accessible to people in Montana and bars them from profiting from distributing such content to Montanans. It defines "content providers" as those who create, publish, or distribute online content, while excluding basic hosting services and general web browsers. The law allows victims, the Department of Justice, and private individuals to sue for violations, with a 50-year statute of limitations for victim-initiated cases. Remedies available include court orders to stop the behavior, monetary compensation, and punitive damages, with provisions for sharing damages among multiple victims.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill strengthens criminal justice by prohibiting child pornography access and enabling legal action against violators, protecting minors and enhancing law enforcement capabilities.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill enhances cybersecurity and protects digital rights by prohibiting child pornography distribution online, strengthening internet safety standards.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Online Safety Social Media

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introduced · Montana · Legislature Mar 28, 2025

LC 3686: Generally revise social media laws for minors

This bill, Montana's Social Media Youth Protection Act (LC 3686), requires social media companies to implement three key safeguards for minors under 18. First, companies must use an "age-assurance system" with at least 95% accuracy to identify minors. Second, they must obtain parental consent for minors' data privacy settings and provide tools for parents to monitor accounts. Third, companies must offer supervisory features for minor account holders to help prevent excessive use linked to mental health risks, sleep disruption, and academic impacts. The law directly affects social media platforms operating in Montana and their minor users and parents.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyRequires social media companies to implement age verification, parental consent, and monitoring tools for minors' data privacy, strengthening consumer protection regulations.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Data Privacy Online Safety Social Media

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died · Montana · Legislature May 26, 2025

LC 1580: Expand child labor laws to include digital labor practices

Bill LC 1580, titled "Expand child labor laws to include digital labor practices," proposed to update existing child labor regulations to cover digital work performed by minors, such as creating social media content, participating in online gigs, or engaging in digital content creation. The bill would have required businesses and platforms employing minors in digital work to comply with age restrictions and hour limits similar to traditional child labor laws. However, the bill died in the legislative process on May 26, 2025, and did not become law, so no policy changes were implemented.

Topics ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentBill expands child labor protections to digital work, strengthening minor workers' rights under Labor & Employment regulations.90% confidence ✗ TechnologyOpposes TechnologyBill imposes restrictions on digital labor practices (e.g., content creation, online gigs) by minors via age/hour limits, limiting technology use in labor contexts rather than advancing tech policy.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Child Labor Gig Economy Labor Standards Online Safety Social Media

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died · Montana · Senate May 23, 2025

SB 192: Provide for digital advertising tax

SB 192 would have imposed a 10% tax on digital advertising revenue generated within Montana by companies with worldwide annual digital advertising revenue exceeding $25 million. It directly affects large digital advertisers (like major tech or social media platforms) operating in Montana, taxing only the portion of their revenue derived from ads served to Montana users. The tax would be calculated using an apportionment method based on Montana ad revenue relative to total U.S. ad revenue, with returns due annually by April 15. All collected revenue would have been deposited into Montana's general fund, as specified in the bill's provisions. The bill died in committee in May 2025 and was not enacted.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesImposes new tax on large digital advertisers to generate state revenue, directly advancing fiscal management and tax policy as per bill's purpose.95% confidence ✗ TechnologyOpposes TechnologyBill imposes 10% tax on digital ad revenue of large tech platforms, restricting their revenue streams as a regulatory measure.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Business Taxes Social Media

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signed · Montana · House May 16, 2025

HB 392: Generally revise laws related to creation of profitable family video content featuring minor children

HB 392, known as the "Child Digital Protection Act," revises laws concerning profitable family video content featuring minor children. It requires content creators who meet specific profit and content thresholds to contribute a percentage of their gross earnings into a trust for the minor child, accessible once the child reaches 18 years of age. Additionally, the bill grants individuals who were featured as minors in such content the right to request the permanent deletion of those video segments from online platforms upon reaching the age of majority.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyGrants minors right to request deletion of personal content, enhancing data privacy protections for digital content featuring minors per bill's deletion provision.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Social Media

died · Montana · House May 22, 2025

HB 925: Generally revise social media laws for minors

HB 925, the "Social Media Youth Protection Act," requires social media companies operating in Montana to implement systems that accurately identify minors (with 95% accuracy) and provide parental consent for data privacy settings. It mandates supervisory tools for minor account holders and restricts algorithmically curated services that use engagement-driven features like autoplay or endless scrolling. The bill directly affects social media companies and minors under 18, aiming to reduce excessive use linked to mental health risks by giving parents control over data and content exposure. Key provisions include age-assurance systems, parental consent for data privacy, and penalties for non-compliance, with definitions clarifying terms like "excessive use" and "algorithmically curated services."

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill mandates parental consent for minors' data privacy, restricts engagement-driven algorithms, and requires supervisory tools to protect minors. This regulates tech companies for consumer protection and strengthens data privacy for minors.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Data Privacy Online Safety Social Media

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died · Montana · Senate May 23, 2025

SB 207: Establish laws related to a digital public square

This bill would prevent social media platforms and other free online spaces (called "digital public squares") from removing users or censoring their content without legal justification. It bans actions like shadowbanning, algorithmic suppression, or restricting content visibility, while allowing platforms to show advertisements. Users could sue platforms for damages if they violate these rules. The law applies specifically to free digital platforms, not paid services, and defines key terms like "deplatforming" as removing users without their request.

Topics ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyPrevents platform censorship of user content, protects digital rights, and enables user lawsuits for violations - directly aligns with regulating tech companies for consumer protection.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Social Media

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