The Computer & Communications Industry Association (CCIA) has published a report scrutinizing the content moderation and online safety legislation considered by state legislatures across the United States in 2024. The report warns that while these legislative efforts are well-intentioned, they could undermine privacy protections, limit free speech, and place heavy compliance burdens on businesses.

The analysis covers legislative actions in states such as California, Florida, Louisiana, Minnesota, New York, Texas, Vermont, and Virginia. Among the proposals were mandatory age verification processes, age-appropriate design codes, and device-level content filters. These measures are intended to enhance online safety for children but may conflict with existing legal standards and practical safety strategies.

CCIA's report recommends that lawmakers focus on realistic solutions that tackle genuine risks without resorting to broad regulations that might exacerbate existing issues. The association advises against creating a fragmented set of state laws that could disrupt business operations and lead to expensive legal challenges for taxpayers.

One example highlighted is age verification laws requiring businesses to gather sensitive personal data like geolocation information and identification documents. This requirement would elevate privacy risks for both minors and adults. Additionally, mandates for content removal and reporting could result in excessive moderation practices that suppress constitutionally protected speech without effectively addressing harmful online content.

Brian McMillan, CCIA Vice President of Federal Affairs, stated: “Protecting children online is a critical goal that policymakers and industry share, but the approach matters. Many of these state-level proposals pose serious risks to privacy, free expression, and online innovation. Instead of implementing laws that are impractical and overly broad, legislators should prioritize solutions that address specific harms while ensuring clear, consistent protections for all users. As the new state legislative sessions start, we urge lawmakers to prioritize proposals that are better tailored to the goals and don’t conflict with federal law.”