Anti-porn bills in eight states would force firms like Apple to censor nude and ... trends now
Eight US states are considering forcing phone manufacturers to install filters preventing users from viewing sexually explicit content - which could only be removed by using a passcode.
The states are looking to follow in the footsteps of Utah, which in 2021 passed a similar bill.
Utah's ruling cannot go into force, however, until at least five other states pass such laws, to prevent the phone companies from retaliating against the one state.
The legislation was first drawn up in 2019 by the teams at National Center on Sexual Exploitation and Protect Young Eyes.
In 2021, Apple introduced an optional filter which can be switched on to scan messages for nudity.
It will then blur any suspected nude images for people who had the filters turned on.
In the intervening years, politicians and advocates have asked for advice on how to get the legislation passed, said Benjamin Bull, the general counsel for the National Center on Sexual Exploitation.
'I mean, almost on a daily basis, from constituents, from legislators,' Bull told NBC News.
''What can we do? We're desperate. Do you have a model bill? Can you help us?'
'And we said: 'as a matter of fact, we do.'
The bills are being weighed in Florida, South Carolina, Maryland, Tennessee, Iowa, Idaho, Texas, and Montana.
Chris McKenna, founder and CEO of Protect Young Eyes, said: 'The intention is meant to point toward the browsers and the [search] engines that have the filters already in place.'
But he said he would not object if the filters were applied in a wider context.
'You wouldn't find me upset if they chose to turn that on for iMessage,' he said.
Apple introduced some filters in 2021: now eight states are seeking to bring in laws making the filters automatic
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