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Who cares
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Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to energy and telecommunications
- Referred to energy and telecommunications
Full text
The text isn't available here yet. Check nysenate.gov.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the public service law, in relation to offering parental controls for internet services
Purpose
To require Internet access providers provide "parental controls" products to parents in order to make sure children can safely and securely use the Internet.
Summary of specific provisions
Section 1 amends the Public Service Law by adding a new Article 12 that includes the following provisions. § 300. Definitions. This section defines "child," "Internet or any other computer network," "Internet access provider," and "interactive computer service." § 301. Parental controls. This section requires all Internet access providers to offer products or services allowing parents to control their child's use of the Internet. The products and services must allow parents the ability to block access to specific websites or domains; restrict a child's access to specific websites that are approved by the parents; and allow the parents to monitor a child's use of the Internet. The bill provides an exception for certain types of wireless services providers for which parental control technology may not yet be available; the bill requires such provides to offer parental control technology when it is reasonably and commercially available. § 302. Enforcement. This section authorizes the Attorney General to bring a civil action against any Internet access provider that violates this article to enjoin the violation and to recover up to one hundred dollars per violation, or up to one thousand dollars for a pattern or practice of such violations. Section 2 is the effective date.
Read the full memo (612 words)
Justification
Cyberspace is the new playground for young people to meet and congregate. However, this virtual playground exposes young people to nefarious actors lurking in every corner of the web. Moreover, it is a place with the same problems that exist on traditional playgrounds, such as bullying (or "cyber" bullying). There are numerous examples where children have been exposed to real danger on the Internet. In many instances, young people engage in conversations in chatrooms, talk with others on social networking websites, and visit webpages not suspecting that the individual on the other end may not have the best intentions. The results are often tragic. Physical danger is not the only peril that young people face on the Internet. Young people can access inappropriate information and sites, such as violent and pornographic images and gambling sites. Further, the Internet easily allows young people to be defrauded when filling out information on Internet and other forms that could result in identity theft. As a community, and as parents, we need to make certain that our children can access the Internet in a safe and secure way. Therefore, it is critical that parents are offered easy access to, and are made aware of, "parental controls" software so that they can block certain web sites and monitor a young person's use of the Internet. This bill requires that Internet access providers offer such services. In many cases, Internet access providers do. However, it is imperative that all providers offer parents the service. Furthermore, this bill does not mandate parents use parental controls. It simply requires that the services are offered. Other states have introduced similar legislation. For example, the Legislature in the state of Georgia introduced legislation that included parental controls (see Senate bill 474 at § 39-5-2). This carefully constructed bill will make sure all Inter net access providers offer parental controls, so we can collectively protect our children on the Internet.
Legislative history
S.7353 - 3rd Reading Calendar/A.10692 - Reported to Codes.
Fiscal implications
None.
Effective date
This act shall take effect on the 90th day after is shall have become law.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.