MONTGOMERY — The Alabama Senate delayed a vote on Wednesday on bills by State Sen. Clyde Chambliss (R-Prattville) that would've added an explicit content filter and age verification requirements on smartphones for minors.
Senate Bill 186 would require manufacturers of "certain Internet-enabled devices," including smartphones and tablets, to require that devices manufactured on or after Jan. 1, 2027, contain a filter that is enabled during the device's activation if the user is a minor and only allow a user with a password to deactivate or reactivate the filter. The bill would also subject device manufacturers in violation of this act to civil liability and provide for penalties.
Senate Bill 187 would require app store providers to verify users' ages, affiliate minor accounts with parent accounts and obtain consent from the parent account holder.
Social conservative groups supported the bills in committee in February, while the big tech and business industries opposed both bills.
The Senate carried the bill over after a nearly three-hour filibuster by Democrats.
State Sen. Rodger Smitherman (D-Birmingham) wants more Democrat-sponsored bills scheduled for Senate votes.
"We should have five bills on this agenda," Smitherman said on the Senate floor. "You can't just not put any of our bills on there."
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