HB167 Alabama 2024 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Chris SellsRepresentative

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2024

Title

Consumer protection; filter requirements on Internet enabled devices, penalties for violation

Summary

HB167 would require certain Internet-enabled smartphones and tablets manufactured for Alabama to include a password-protected content filter that activates for minor users at setup, with enforcement for devices activated in-state beginning in 2026.

What This Bill Does

If enacted, devices manufactured on or after January 1, 2025 must include a filter that automatically turns on for minors during activation and can only be deactivated with a password. The device must determine the user’s age at setup, keep the filter on for minors, require a password to deactivate or reactivate, and notify users when the filter blocks a site. Beginning January 1, 2026, devices activated in Alabama must meet these rules and may expose manufacturers to civil and criminal liability for noncompliance, with exemptions for good-faith efforts to auto-enforce a reasonable filter; retailers are not held liable.

Who It Affects

• Manufacturers of smartphones and tablets: must implement the age-based filter with activation, password controls, and notification features; face civil and criminal penalties for violations.
• Parents/guardians of minors (and others who enable or misuse the filter): may pursue private actions for noncompliance and seek damages; non-parents who disable the filter could also be liable.

Key Provisions

• Devices manufactured on or after January 1, 2025 must contain a filter that activates during initial setup if the user is a minor and can only be deactivated or reactivated with a password.
• The device must determine the user’s age at activation, turn the filter on for minors, require a password to deactivate or reactivate, notify the user when the filter blocks access to a website, and allow password-controlled deactivation/reactivation.
• Beginning January 1, 2026, a device activated in Alabama must comply with these requirements, and manufacturers face civil and criminal liability for noncompliance; good-faith efforts to auto-enable a generally accepted filter are exempt, and retailers are not liable.
• Parents/guardians may file private lawsuits for noncompliance, potentially recovering actual or liquidated damages ($50,000 per violation, with aggregate caps), punitive damages for knowing/willful violations, attorney fees, and other relief; class actions are allowed in certain cases.
• The Attorney General may seek injunctions, civil penalties up to $5,000 per violation (up to $50,000 aggregate), recover costs, issue subpoenas, and pursue license revocation for manufacturers; each device manufactured after 2025 can be treated as a separate violation.
• Section 4 creates civil liability for individuals (other than a parent/guardian) who enable removing the filter, if a minor is exposed to obscene content.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 22, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Consumer Protection