SCOPE Act
{{Infobox legislation
| short_title = SCOPE Act
| legislature = Texas Legislature
| image = Seal of Texas.svg
| long_title = an act relating to the protection of minors from harmful, deceptive, or unfair trade practices in connection with the use of certain digital services and electronic devices, including the use and transfer of electronic devices to students by a public school.
| territorial_extent = State of Texas
| enacted_by = September 1, 2024
| date_enacted = June 13, 2023
| date_introduced = February 16, 2023
| 1st_reading = May 4, 2023
| 2nd_reading = May 23, 2023
| 3rd_reading = May 23, 2023
| status = not fully in force
}}
HB 18 also known as Securing Children Online Through Parental Empowerment Act or just The SCOPE Act is an American law in Texas. The law requires internet platforms to verify the age of a parent or guardian of accounts if they are signed in as under 18. It also requires parental consent before collecting the data on minors under 18 years of age. Which is an increase from the age set at the federal level under COPPA which is 13. It also requires platforms to block and filter if the content promotes suicide, self-harm, eating disorders, substance abuse, stalking, bullying, or harassment, or grooming.[https://capitol.texas.gov/BillLookup/History.aspx?LegSess=88R&Bill=HB18 Texas Legislature Online - 88(R) History for HB 18][https://www.khou.com/article/news/politics/texas-hb-18-vote/285-7d774840-cebc-4d60-bf5c-1967d382c343 Texas HB 18: Scope Act aims to protect teens from harmful content | khou.com][https://www.texastribune.org/2023/04/25/texas-house-bill-social-media/ Texas kids would need parental consent for social media under House bill | The Texas Tribune][https://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/88R/billtext/pdf/HB00018F.pdf 88(R) HB 18 - Enrolled version (texas.gov)][https://abc13.com/post/scope-act-2024-social-media-restrictions-went-effect-sept-1-other-texas-laws/15259222 ABC SCOPE Act in effect]
Lawsuit against the act
= ''CCIA & NetChoice v. Paxton'' =
On July 30, 2024, The trade associations The Computer and Communications Industry Association and NetChoice filed a lawsuit against Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton to the to block enforcement of the law to The Western District Court of Texas.[https://netchoice.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/HB-18-Complaint_As-Filed.pdf HB-18-Complaint_As-Filed.pdf (netchoice.org)] Judge Robert Pitman on August 30, 2024, blocked the block and filtering content requirements of the law. However, let the rest of the law take effect as the Plaintiffs didn't show evidence that the other parts of the law were unconstitutional.[https://www.kxan.com/news/texas-politics/preliminary-injunction-issued-in-lawsuit-over-texas-social-media-safety-law/ NetChoice Lawsuit KXAN News][https://www.texastribune.org/2024/07/30/texas-social-media-law-parents-minors/ Texas’ social media parental controls law partly blocked | The Texas Tribune][https://netchoice.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/2024-08-30-Order-Granting-In-dckt-25_0.pdf 2024-08-30-Order-Granting-In-dckt-25_0.pdf (netchoice.org)]
= ''Students Engaged in Advancing Texas et al v. Paxton'' =
On August 16, 2024, FIRE helped 4 plaintiffs to sue the Attorney General Ken Paxton. alleging that the law violated the first amendment.[https://thetexan.news/issues/social-issues-life-family/fire-sues-ken-paxton-alleging-new-scope-act-violates-constitutional-rights-commerce-clause/article_b422e6c2-5e49-11ef-8cee-a3f7c8893159.html FIRE Sues Ken Paxton, Alleging New 'SCOPE Act' Violates Constitutional Rights, Commerce Clause | Civil Society | The Texan][https://www.pacermonitor.com/public/case/54741970/Students_Engaged_in_Advancing_Texas_et_al_v_Paxton Students Engaged in Advancing Texas et al v. Paxton]
Lawsuits enforcing the act
= ''Texas v. TikTok'' =
On October 3, 2024 Ken Paxton sued TikTok for violating The SCOPE Act demanding a trial and for penalties of up to 10,000 dollars per violation. TikTok denies that it violated the law.[https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/sites/default/files/images/press/TikTok%20Original%20Petition%20Filestamped.pdf TikTok Original Petition Filestamped.pdf (texasattorneygeneral.gov)][https://thehill.com/regulation/court-battles/4914746-texas-sues-tiktok-minors-data/ Texas sues TikTok over handling of minors' data (thehill.com)][https://www.reuters.com/legal/texas-attorney-general-sues-tiktok-alleged-sharing-childrens-personal-data-2024-10-03/ Texas sues TikTok for violating children's privacy | Reuters][https://www.texastribune.org/2024/10/03/ken-paxton-texas-lawsuit-tiktok/ Ken Paxton sues TikTok for disclosing Texas minors’ data. | The Texas Tribune]