House Committee Greenlights Bill to Shield Kids from Dangerous Online Content

By Daniel Stefanski |

Arizona legislators are taking significant steps to safeguard children in the digital landscape. Recently, the Arizona House Commerce Committee greenlit HB 2195, a bill aimed at shielding minors from inappropriate advertisements in applications marketed towards them.

The proposed legislation mandates that digital platforms implement effective monitoring systems to block harmful content. It also introduces penalties for entities that fail to comply, reinforcing accountability in the digital advertising space. House Majority Whip Julie Willoughby, the bill’s sponsor, emphasized the necessity of such measures in her statement, highlighting her personal experience as a mother. “It’s troubling that some apps marketed as ‘child-friendly’ can expose kids to disturbing ads. This bill is a commitment to creating safer digital experiences for children,” she said.

Willoughby further noted, “Parents shouldn’t have to constantly shield their children from harmful content. Arizona is stepping in where tech companies have not, ensuring real consequences for violations.”

The bill’s key provisions restate the rights of Arizona parents and outline clear prohibitions on mature advertisements within child-directed apps. Platforms found violating these guidelines could face fines up to $10,000 per incident.

In a party-line vote of 6-3, all Republican members supported the legislation, while Democrats opposed it. The response from the broader community has been polarized. A representative from the American Academy of Pediatrics – Arizona Chapter expressed support for the bill, contrasting with a spokesperson from the American Civil Liberties Union of Arizona, who voiced opposition.

HB 2195 is now set to advance to the full Arizona House of Representatives for an upcoming vote.