Bill Text: NJ AR242 | 2018-2019 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Respectfully urges Congress pass legislation protecting children from danger while using Internet.
Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-1)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2019-05-16 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Women and Children Committee [AR242 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2018-AR242-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman BETTYLOU DECROCE
District 26 (Essex, Morris and Passaic)
SYNOPSIS
Respectfully urges Congress pass legislation protecting children from danger while using internet.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Assembly Resolution respectfully urging Congress to pass legislation to protect children from danger while using the internet.
Whereas, Protecting children from any potential danger is a fundamental duty of the State of New Jersey and the United States Congress; and
Whereas, Research from Common Sense Media, an organization that reviews entertainment for families, found that 98 percent of children under the age of eight have access to a mobile device at home; and
Whereas, The increase in technology and media consumption among children has led to the consumption of highly addictive online games and an increase in commercialization directed at children; and
Whereas, The World Health Organization has labeled online gaming disorder a mental health condition and warns the digital distraction becomes a disorder when "increasing priority [is] given to gaming to the extent that gaming takes precedence over other life interests and daily activities," and if the person continues to play or escalates how much they play despite negative consequences; and
Whereas, The federal government last passed legislation to protect children against offensive content in 1990, when "The Children's Television Act of 1990" was enacted; and
Whereas, Since then, the viewing habits of children have changed as online free-for-all commercial and media platforms, including YouTube, Instagram, and Netflix, continually grow in popularity; and
Whereas, It is imperative to hold the leadership of internet-based companies and online communities accountable since children do not receive the same protection on video-streaming services as they do with traditional broadcasting; and
Whereas, Internet-based companies should be encouraged to establish positive safe spaces for children to develop their digital skills and utilize online resources, while rooting out abuse and negative content; and
Whereas, There is a need to better regulate and optimize online platforms that fit the interests and needs of young people online, while not shutting them out from the benefits of the internet; and
Whereas, Protecting children from internet dangers also includes securing personal data that is collected and overseeing the individuals and entities who have access to view and disseminate that data; and
Whereas, According to the Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood (CCFC), an organization that educates the public about commercialism's impact on children's wellbeing, a large amount of children's data, including highly sensitive information, is shared without parental knowledge or consent to vendors or companies throughout a child's life, starting as early as kindergarten; and
Whereas, It is estimated that 40 percent of teens have received an online request for personal information and 16 percent of children have been approached online by a stranger, which is well over the six percent of adults who believe children are ever approached online by a stranger; and
Whereas, Over the last five years, the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Internet Crime Complaint Center has reported an average of more than 284,000 internet crime complaints filed per year; and
Whereas, Federal laws intended to protect children and children's data are inadequate to address the challenges of today's digital age and have led to weak policing of graphic content on the internet; and
Whereas, On Tuesday, March 12, 2019, Senators Ed Markey of Massachusetts and Josh Hawley of Missouri, introduced S.748, a bipartisan bill to amend the "Children's Online Privacy Protection Act of 1998" (COPPA) to strengthen protections relating to the online collection, use, and disclosure of personal information; and
Whereas, On Thursday, April 4, 2019, Senator Markey introduced the "Kids Internet Design and Safety (KIDS) Act," to combat manipulative design features, unhealthy marketing practices, and the amplification of harmful content that make the internet hazardous for children today; and
Whereas, Given that the safety of children is a high priority for this State and the United States Congress, it is fitting and proper that Congress pass the KIDS Act and the proposed amendments to COPPA to better protect children from danger while using the internet; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. This House respectfully urges the United States Congress to pass comprehensive legislation protecting children on the internet, such as the "Kid's Internet Design and Safety (KIDS) Act" and the proposed amendments to the "Children's Online Privacy Protection Act of 1998."
2. Copies of this
resolution, as filed with the Secretary of State, shall be transmitted by the
Clerk of the General Assembly to the President of the United States Senate, the
Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, the Majority and
Minority Leaders of the United States Senate and United States House of
Representatives, and each member of the United States Congress elected from
this State.
STATEMENT
This resolution respectfully urges Congress to pass legislation to protect children from danger while using the internet. The increase in technology and media consumption among children has led to the consumption of highly addictive online games and an increase in commercialization directed at children. Federal laws intended to protect children and children's data are inadequate to address the challenges of today's digital age.
Two bills introduced in Congress aim to increase the protections relating to children using the internet. S.748, a bipartisan bill sponsored by Senators Ed Markey of Massachusetts and Josh Hawley of Missouri, amends the "Children's Online Privacy Protection Act of 1998," (COPPA) to strengthen protections relating to the online collection, use, and disclosure of personal information of children and minors. In addition, Senator Markey introduced the "Kids Internet Design and Safety (KIDS) Act," to combat manipulative design features, unhealthy marketing practices, and the amplification of harmful content that make the internet hazardous for children today.
