Plain Language Summary
# SCREEN Act Summary **What the bill would do:** The SCREEN Act would require websites and online services that host sexually explicit or obscene content to verify users' ages before allowing access. If passed, these platforms would need to implement technology to confirm that users are adults and prevent minors from viewing harmful sexual material. The bill also requires companies to publicly disclose their age-verification methods and to block access attempts using VPNs or other tools that might hide a user's location. **Who it affects:** This bill primarily targets adult websites and any commercial online services that contain sexually explicit content. It would also affect the technology companies that provide age-verification services, and potentially impact all internet users by requiring them to verify their age on certain platforms.
Parents and child safety advocates support such measures, while privacy advocates have raised concerns about data collection. **Current status:** The bill is currently in committee (HR 1623) and has not yet been voted on by the full House. It was introduced in the 119th Congress by Representative Mary E. Miller (R-IL). Similar age-verification proposals have been introduced in previous congressional sessions but have faced technical and privacy-related challenges.
CRS Official Summary
Shielding Children's Retinas from Egregious Exposure on the Net Act or the SCREEN ActThis bill establishes age-verification requirements for commercial interactive computer services (e.g., websites) that make available content that is harmful to minors (e.g., content that appeals to the prurient interest in nudity or sex, is obscene, or is child pornography).Specifically, the bill requires such services to adopt and utilize technology verification measures to ensure that (1) users of the service are not minors, and (2) minors are prevented from accessing any content on the service that is harmful to minors.Additionally, such services must (1) use the technology to verify a user's age; (2) publish the verification process that the service uses; and (3) subject users' Internet Protocol (IP) addresses, including known virtual proxy network (VPN) IP addresses, to the technology verification measures, unless the service determines a user is not located within the United States.Covered services also must implement data security measures to protect information about individuals collected through the verification process.The Federal Trade Commission must conduct regular audits of such services, issue guidance, and otherwise enforce the requirements of this bill.
Latest Action
Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee in the Nature of a Substitute (Amended) by Voice Vote.