Recently, Texas enacted the Securing Children Online through Parental Empowerment Act (SCOPE Act), joining Arkansas and Utah as the third state in the United States to impose regulations on the use of social media by individuals under the age of 18. This law imposes requirements on digital service providers, aiming to secure the online environment for the younger population.
As stated in the JD Supra report, the law will go into effect on September 1st, 2024. Notably, the SCOPE Act does not provide private rights for action. Enforcement of the law will be carried out by the Texas attorney general, instead.
The effect of the SCOPE Act on the policies and operations of digital service providers will be closely observed by corporate legal experts. It adds to the growing conversation around child safety online and the responsibilities of online platforms in that regard.
Further details about the components and implications of the SCOPE Act will surely be an area of interest in the upcoming months for law professionals working within the field of digital and online media. This law could potentially set a precedent for other states to take similar action, especially amidst the current global dialogue around online safety for minors.