Human Trafficking and Child Exploitation Prevention

A BILL TO AMEND THE CODE OF LAWS OF SOUTH CAROLINA, 1976, BY ADDING ARTICLE 5 TO CHAPTER 15, TITLE 16 ENTITLED THE "HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND CHILD EXPLOITATION PREVENTION ACT" SO AS TO REQUIRE A BUSINESS, MANUFACTURER, WHOLESALER, OR INDIVIDUAL THAT MANUFACTURES, DISTRIBUTES, OR SELLS A PRODUCT THAT MAKES CONTENT ACCESSIBLE ON THE INTERNET TO INSTALL AND OPERATE A DIGITAL BLOCKING CAPABILITY THAT RENDERS OBSCENITY INACCESSIBLE AND TO SET MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS FOR THE BLOCKING CAPABILITY; TO ESTABLISH A PROCEDURE FOR THE CONSUMER TO DEACTIVATE THE DIGITAL BLOCKING CAPABILITY; TO ALLOW A REPORTING SYSTEM TO UNBLOCK CONTENT THAT IS NOT OBSCENE, SUCH AS SOCIAL MEDIA WEBSITES, AND AUTHORIZE A CONSUMER TO SEEK JUDICIAL RELIEF IF THE FILTERED CONTENT IS NOT UNBLOCKED WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME; TO ESTABLISH CRIMINAL PENALTIES FOR A BUSINESS OR INDIVIDUAL THAT VIOLATES THIS ARTICLE; TO AUTHORIZE THE ATTORNEY GENERAL TO SEEK INJUNCTIVE RELIEF AGAINST A BUSINESS, MANUFACTURER, WHOLESALER, OR INDIVIDUAL THAT MANUFACTURES, DISTRIBUTES, OR SELLS ANY PRODUCTS IN THIS STATE WITHOUT A DIGITAL BLOCKING CAPABILITY, TO ESTABLISH THAT A CONSUMER OR THE ATTORNEY GENERAL MAY FILE A SUIT AGAINST A PARTY THAT IS UNRESPONSIVE TO A REPORT OF OBSCENE MATERIAL BREACHING THE FILTER AND TO PRESCRIBE DAMAGES FOR EACH VIOLATION.