Ask your state rep to reject restricting young people's access to social media and vote NO on HB 2017!

HB 2017 is one of several state bills, modeled off of KOSA (Kids Online Safety Act), a federal bill that has been fiercely opposed by numerous civil rights, LGBTQIA+, pro-choice, free speech, and pro-privacy organizations. Like KOSA, HB 2017 claims to protect children, but this "protection" is provided by forcing platforms to suppress a wide range of content that has nothing to do with harming kids.

HB 2017 is a censorship bill masquerading as a protection measure.

The House may vote as early as TUESDAY, APRIL 16, so PLEASE CALL NOW!

HB 2017 would make kids less safe by cutting them off from access to lifesaving information and resources on controversial but important topics like abortion, gender-affirming care, substance abuse, and even current events. 

Although this legislation is well-intentioned, the ACLU-PA opposes HB 2017 for the following reasons:

• HB 2017 would threaten the First Amendment rights of young people by inviting social media companies to censor content they deem "harmful" to minors.
• HB 2017 would define causing “harm” to minors broadly and subjectively, allowing the PA Attorney General to decide when/if to punish companies for allowing young people to access content the Attorney General determines is "harmful."
• HB 2017 will likely have dire consequences for young people, especially vulnerable youth, by making it difficult for young people to access vital resources on issues such as sexual orientation, gender identity, and reproductive health issues, to name a few.
• HB 2017 would invite parental surveillance, potentially denying kids access to supportive communities.
• Finally, HB 2017 begs important implementation, monitoring, and enforcement questions, since this type of legislation should properly be handled at the federal level and should avoid contributing to a patchwork of ad hoc requirements that differ from state to state.

Please call your state rep TODAY to ask them to vote NO on HB 2017!

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For more information, read:

• ACLU-PA's memo opposing HB 2017
• Planned Parenthood PA Advocates opposition to HB 2017
• Coalition letter opposing SB 22 (companion bill to HB 2017) signed by the Chamber of Progress, Pennsylvania Youth Congress, YouthFacts, Fight for the Future, LGBT Tech, Woodhull Freedom Foundation, and the ACLU-PA