# SCREEN Act Summary

## What This Bill Does

The SCREEN Act (Shielding Children's Retinas from Egregious Exposure on the Net Act) requires adult websites and online platforms that host pornographic content to implement age verification technology to prevent minors from accessing that content. Instead of relying on parental controls or filtering software, this bill places the responsibility directly on websites to verify that users are adults before allowing access to pornographic material.

## Who Is Affected

**Websites and platforms** that regularly host or distribute pornographic content would be required to adopt and operate age verification systems. **Parents and children** would benefit from reduced access to adult content online. The **Federal Trade Commission (FTC)** would be responsible for enforcing the law and ensuring compliance.

## Key Provisions

- Websites must implement technology to verify users are not minors before accessing pornographic content
- The bill applies to interactive computer services engaged in interstate commerce that profit from hosting adult content
- Congress argues this approach is less restrictive than previous failed legislation (which courts struck down) and more effective than parental filtering software, which studies show fails on many sites
- The bill is framed around protecting children's psychological and physical well-being, citing research linking pornography exposure to anxiety, addiction, and risky sexual behavior

## Legal Context

The bill references decades of failed congressional attempts to protect minors from online pornography, noting that courts previously suggested age verification technology as a viable alternative—technology that the bill argues has now become practical and cost-effective.

SCREEN Act

Lee, Mike

Shielding Children's Retinas from Egregious Exposure on the Net Act or the SCREEN Act This bill establishes age-verification requirements for commercial interactive computer services (e.g., websites) that make available content that is harmful to minors (e.g., content that appeals to the prurient interest in nudity or sex, is obscene, or is child pornography). Specifically, the bill requires such services to adopt and utilize technology verification measures to ensure that (1) users of the service are not minors, and (2) minors are prevented from accessing any content on the service that is harmful to minors. Additionally, such services must (1) use the technology to verify a user's age; (2) publish the verification process that the service uses; and (3) subject users'&nbsp;Internet Protocol (IP) addresses, including known virtual proxy network (VPN) IP addresses, to the technology verification measures, unless the service determines a user is not located within the United States. Covered services also must implement data security measures to protect information about individuals collected through the verification process. The Federal Trade Commission must conduct regular audits of such services, issue guidance, and otherwise enforce the requirements of this bill.