Mississippi's HB1126 Sparks Controversy as Bluesky Blocks State Users Over Age Verification Law
Mississippi's HB1126, dubbed the 'Walker Montgomery Protecting Children Online Act', has sparked controversy. The law mandates strict age verification for online platforms, with significant penalties for non-compliance. BlueSky, a smaller tech company, has criticized the law, claiming it stifles free speech and burdens smaller platforms.
The law requires platforms to verify users' ages before granting access, with potential fines of $10,000 per user for non-compliance. It also restricts how platforms handle minors' data and mandates strategies to prevent minors' exposure to harmful content. BlueSky argues these requirements create substantial infrastructure and developer time investments, making compliance challenging for smaller providers.
BlueSky's engineering team faces resource constraints. Building the required verification systems and compliance infrastructure would demand significant resources. In response, BlueSky blocked access from Mississippi IP addresses rather than comply with the law. This decision reflects broader dynamics affecting smaller technology companies navigating complex regulatory landscapes, unlike established tech giants with extensive legal and engineering departments.
For users identified as minors, the law requires express parental consent obtained through methods including signed forms, toll-free telephone verification, video conferencing calls, government ID verification, or email confirmation with additional identity verification steps.
Mississippi's HB1126 aims to protect children online but has faced criticism for its potential impact on smaller platforms. BlueSky's decision to block Mississippi users highlights the challenges these companies face in complying with such laws. As of 2023, no specific information exists about legal challenges against the law, but future disputes are possible.
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