Melea Stephens on the Passing of the Safer Devices for Kids Act

ALCAP President Greg Davis was joined by Melea Stephens (LPC, MMFT) on Priority Talk Radio to discuss two bills: SB186 (a cellphone adult content filter bill for minors) and SB187 (an age-verification bill for app stores). Stephens, a Licensed Counselor with Wellspring Christian Clinic and a Board Member for the National Center on Sexual Exploitation, began the conversation by describing her counseling and advocacy background before sharing about the two bills in the Alabama state legislature.

After years of effort in Alabama––and after Utah passed a similar bill, paving the way for Alabama to do the same––SB186 (the Safer Devices for Kids Act) has passed the House/Senate and will become law. Although it still awaits the Governor’s signature, that will be forthcoming to make it official. The bill requires that smartphones and tablets have their adult content filters turned on if the user is a minor. These filters already exist in the devices, but they typically are “dormant” upon activation. The goal is to help prevent or delay the accidental exposure of pornography to minors, thus helping to preserve normal and healthy development into adulthood.

Unfortunately, SB187 (the App Store Accountability Act), another bill aimed at protecting children from pornography, will not pass this year. SB187 would require app stores to implement age verification, which is a common practice in a variety of industries: “[This bill would] require an app store provider to take certain actions regarding age verification, parental notification, and data protection; to prohibit an app store provider or developer from taking certain actions that allow minors to access apps without parental consent; and to authorize the Attorney General to bring an action for a violation as a deceptive trade practice.”

Technology companies and the adult content industry raise various objections to these bills. Ultimately, the core of the issue is money and liability. Pornography makes a lot of money, and some of the parties involved in its creation and distribution oppose anything that will cost them money or make them liable for damages (which will cost money).

To listen to their entire conversation, click here.