Adult content filters for iPhone and iPad required under Utah bill
A bill was approved in Utah to force smartphone and tablet producers to include automatic filters blocking pornography, a feature Apple offers users in iOS.
Approved on Thursday by the Utah House of Representatives, the HB72 "Device Filter Amendments" bill requires mobile devices sold or produced in the state to include software filters. These filters would be automatically enabled, blocking material deemed "harmful to minors" on the iPhone or iPad.
As part of the activation, the bill also allows certain users of the devices to deactivate the filter completely or for specific content, reports Law & Crime. The device would also warn users that content is being filtered.
The bill will allow the attorney general or the public to sue manufacturers that do not include the filters, with lawsuits able to be launched once a minor accesses "harmful" material. The bill's proposed penalty of "up to $10 for each violation" would be partially payable to the Crime Victims Reparations Fund for the state, as well as possible actual damages to the plaintiff.
While the filters may not be perfect, the bill seems to accept mistakes will occur. It states that manufacturers making a "good faith effort" to include the filters would be looked upon favorably by courts in the event adult material is viewed by a minor.
The bill has already received some criticism, including from senators. Senator Jake Anderegg said the bill "logistically" wouldn't work because it would force device producers to turn on the software, rather than sellers who typically deal with software when providing products to consumers.
Senator Kathleen Riebe was apparently concerned there would be an "undue burden" on interstate commerce caused by the bill.
While the bill was approved by the state's House of Representatives, and was previously approved by the senate, it won't affect Apple and other companies just yet. For a start, the rules start from January 1 of the year after the bill takes effect .
The bill itself also wouldn't come into force until at least five other states pass similar legislation.
Apple is already well-positioned to comply with the bill's demands, due to existing features built into iOS and iPadOS. The Screen Time parental controls are best known for limiting access to apps and to prevent expensive in-app purchases, but they also contain content controls.
Under Screen Time's Content & Privacy Restrictions, a section marked "Content Restrictions" lists different areas of iOS that can be managed. An option for Web Content includes options for "unrestricted access," "allowed websites only," and the ability to "limit adult websites."
While this does not include the automatic enabling of the filters that the bill demands, it is plausible that Apple could come up with a way to comply with the bill.
Approved on Thursday by the Utah House of Representatives, the HB72 "Device Filter Amendments" bill requires mobile devices sold or produced in the state to include software filters. These filters would be automatically enabled, blocking material deemed "harmful to minors" on the iPhone or iPad.
As part of the activation, the bill also allows certain users of the devices to deactivate the filter completely or for specific content, reports Law & Crime. The device would also warn users that content is being filtered.
The bill will allow the attorney general or the public to sue manufacturers that do not include the filters, with lawsuits able to be launched once a minor accesses "harmful" material. The bill's proposed penalty of "up to $10 for each violation" would be partially payable to the Crime Victims Reparations Fund for the state, as well as possible actual damages to the plaintiff.
While the filters may not be perfect, the bill seems to accept mistakes will occur. It states that manufacturers making a "good faith effort" to include the filters would be looked upon favorably by courts in the event adult material is viewed by a minor.
The bill has already received some criticism, including from senators. Senator Jake Anderegg said the bill "logistically" wouldn't work because it would force device producers to turn on the software, rather than sellers who typically deal with software when providing products to consumers.
Senator Kathleen Riebe was apparently concerned there would be an "undue burden" on interstate commerce caused by the bill.
While the bill was approved by the state's House of Representatives, and was previously approved by the senate, it won't affect Apple and other companies just yet. For a start, the rules start from January 1 of the year after the bill takes effect .
The bill itself also wouldn't come into force until at least five other states pass similar legislation.
Apple is already well-positioned to comply with the bill's demands, due to existing features built into iOS and iPadOS. The Screen Time parental controls are best known for limiting access to apps and to prevent expensive in-app purchases, but they also contain content controls.
Under Screen Time's Content & Privacy Restrictions, a section marked "Content Restrictions" lists different areas of iOS that can be managed. An option for Web Content includes options for "unrestricted access," "allowed websites only," and the ability to "limit adult websites."
While this does not include the automatic enabling of the filters that the bill demands, it is plausible that Apple could come up with a way to comply with the bill.
Comments
I do not object to a user setting up their own device to filter certain material, but I what I strenuously object to is government mandating such things. It is none of their business. Another intrusion into people's personal lives sponsored by government.
Given the tools to block this content already exist, it is clear this is little more than the usual political grandstanding by worthless politicians trying to plump up their resume in a state that is generally quite conservative. Interesting enough, their are several "Mormon" porn sites so a lot of them seem to enjoy the very material they want to block. It would not be surprising to find the bill's sponsor had a secret stash of Mormon porn on his/her Android phone! If she/he had aniPhone she/he would have filtered it out!
It is not reasonable porn filters should be automatic by default. Why should they be automatic? The means to restrict minors access is there and publicized by Apple. The idea there should be automatic filters applied to non-minors is close to being offensive. Don't like it, don't look.
Automatic is just another extension of the the government and religious conservatives into other's lives. "God" forbid someone should unintentionally see someone's genitalia or naked breasts. I am sure they would be scarred for life.
In a way I think Apple should enable the filter by default - to protect minors from parents that don’t care enough.
I’m not sure that a law should require it however.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Watershed_(broadcasting)
I get the argument about not having individual freedoms infringed on because of other people's kids but having safe defaults is good for everyone. If someone uses a search engine at work, they most likely don't want to have dozens of explicit images pop up on their screen. When they are at home and want to see them, they can turn the filter off.
Where I find it crosses a line is like on Youtube where they ask for a credit card or id to turn off the restricted filter. I think that should just be a computer setting that it queries whether you approve of adult material. An API that sits on the computer can do that. If the device is restricted by default, it can be setup with an undefined age in the settings, which is assumed to be underage and all coppa-compliant sites can assume they should apply restrictions.
https://www.ftc.gov/tips-advice/business-center/guidance/complying-coppa-frequently-asked-questions-0
This can also work for chat sites and webcams. A big problem today is children being groomed online and sites don't have any way of determining if the user is an adult. If they can tell the difference by querying a setting, they can offer a lot more protection online. To go even further, people can apply for a cryptographic key using an id or credit card and that can be used for all sites like Youtube and they don't each have to ask for credit card details, they just query if the key is valid and the device API returns to confirm if it is without revealing the key.
I'm not sure that some small slice of the iPhone market (those minors with parents that don't care enough) is worthy of making the majority of iPhone market have to OPT-OUT of a filter. When i OPT-OUT, am I flagged somewhere as a porn watcher since I opted out? It should be OPT-IN and/or just go buy filter software for your kids iPhone. If you're that poor of a parent, it should not be my problem.
Well that certainly doesn’t sound authoritarian/totalitarian AT ALL!
I wonder which political party is pushing this sort of puritanical censorship? Sounds like something the Taliban would like.
I'm sure my 14 year old grandson would volunteer for a such study!