House File 526 - Introduced HOUSE FILE 526 BY STONE A BILL FOR An Act relating to social media users under eighteen years 1 of age, making penalties applicable, and including 2 applicability provisions. 3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF IOWA: 4 TLSB 2249YH (3) 90 es/rn

H.F. 526 Section 1. NEW SECTION . 554G.1 Definitions. 1 As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise 2 requires: 3 1. “Internet site” means the same as defined in section 4.1. 4 2. “Social media account” means an individualized account 5 that a user uses to access a social media company’s internet 6 site. 7 3. “Social media company” means a company responsible for 8 operating and maintaining a social media internet site that 9 meets all of the following criteria: 10 a. Allows users, through the creation of pages within 11 the internet site or profiles or by other means, to provide 12 information about themselves that is available to the public 13 or to other users. 14 b. Allows users a mechanism for communication with other 15 users. 16 Sec. 2. NEW SECTION . 554G.2 Social media company —— 17 prohibition on accounts. 18 A social media company shall not allow an individual younger 19 than eighteen years of age in this state to maintain a social 20 media account on the social media company’s internet site. A 21 social media company in violation of this section shall be 22 subject to penalties pursuant to section 554G.3. 23 Sec. 3. NEW SECTION . 554G.3 Civil penalty. 24 A social media company that violates section 554G.2 shall 25 be subject to a civil penalty of one thousand dollars per 26 violation. A penalty imposed pursuant to this section shall be 27 deposited in the general fund of the state. 28 Sec. 4. NEW SECTION . 554G.4 Enforcement. 29 The attorney general may bring a civil action under section 30 554G.2 on behalf of an individual under eighteen years of age 31 who resides in this state and has accessed a social media 32 website. 33 Sec. 5. APPLICABILITY. This Act applies to a social media 34 company operating on or after the effective date of this Act. 35 -1- LSB 2249YH (3) 90 es/rn 1/ 2

H.F. 526 EXPLANATION 1 The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with 2 the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly. 3 This bill relates to social media users under 18 years of 4 age. 5 The bill defines “internet site”, “social media account”, 6 and “social media company”. The bill defines “social media 7 company” to mean a company responsible for operating and 8 maintaining a social media internet site that allows users to 9 provide information about themselves to specified audiences and 10 allows users to communicate with other users. 11 The bill prohibits an individual younger than 18 years of age 12 from maintaining their own social media account. 13 The bill provides for civil penalties. A social media 14 company in violation of the bill’s provisions shall be subject 15 to a fine of $1,000 per violation. The fine shall be deposited 16 in the general fund of the state. 17 The bill provides that the attorney general may enforce the 18 provisions of the bill. 19 The bill applies to a social media company operating in the 20 state on or after the effective date of the bill. 21 -2- LSB 2249YH (3) 90 es/rn 2/ 2