Proposed Florida law seeks to improve social media safety for underage users

A new bill introduced in Florida aims to bolster protections for minors using social media platforms.

The bill, known as SB 868, aims to tackle the rising concerns related to online safety, especially concerning the potential exploitation of minors by predatory individuals.

Under this legislation, social media companies are required to establish processes to decrypt end-to-end encryption when law enforcement provides a subpoena. This measure is designed to aid law enforcement in accessing crucial evidence during investigations involving minors. Moreover, the bill specifies that social media platforms must allow parents or legal guardians to monitor all messages sent and received by minor account holders.

Sen. Blaise Ingoglia, R-11, who sponsored the bill, emphasized the urgency of the legislation on Tuesday.

According to a statement, “There are malicious individuals on the internet who target minors with sexually explicit and suggestive content. The encryption methods employed by social media firms pose obstacles for law enforcement in obtaining the necessary evidence to prosecute these offenders.”

The bill also prohibits minors from using or accessing messages that are designed to disappear or self-destruct, which are often referred to as ephemeral messages. This provision aims to ensure that potentially harmful communications remain accessible for law enforcement investigations.

Key provisions of the bill

The bill includes several significant requirements for social media platforms:

1. Account Termination for Minors: Social media companies must terminate accounts held by users younger than 14 years old and provide a mechanism for account holders aged 14 or 15 to request account termination with parental consent.

2. Data Deletion: Upon termination of an account, platforms are required to permanently delete all personal information associated with that account, unless legal obligations necessitate retention.

3. Law Enforcement Access: The bill stipulates that social media platforms must provide a way to decrypt messages for law enforcement when a subpoena is issued, enabling access to critical evidence in criminal investigations.

4. Parental Access to Messages: Parents or legal guardians will have the right to view all messages sent and received by their minor children on social media platforms.

5. Prohibition of Ephemeral Messages: Minors will be prohibited from accessing messages that are designed to disappear after a certain period or upon viewing.

During the hearing, Sen. Ingoglia shared his firsthand experiences with law enforcement sting operations aimed at catching online predators.

“Without this much-needed bill, we are in a de facto state of letting these social media companies destroy the information… to put people who are committing crimes against our children away,” he said.