Governor Tate Reeves signs HB 599 to keep kids safe online

TUPELO, Miss. — Today, Governor Tate Reeves signed House Bill 599, authored by Rep. Price Wallace (R-Mendenhall), into law. The bill allows persons harmed by commercial websites that publish child pornography and obscenity to sue these websites for significant monetary damages.

Online child pornography has risen to levels never seen before. A recent report from the MIT Technology Review stated that “the U.S. now hosts more child sexual abuse material online than any other country.” In addition, the average age of exposure to harmful pornography continues to creep lower and is now age 12, with some reporting exposure as early as age 5.

“It should come as no surprise that the porn industry is not policing itself, and children are getting hurt,” said Dr. Jameson Taylor, director of government affairs for AFA Action. “Mississippi is putting Big Porn on notice. Because of this law, porn companies will be forced to remove illegal, harmful content.”

“A website that publishes child pornography or obscenity is already engaging in a crime,” noted AFA Action Senior Legal Fellow Trey Dellinger. “The U.S. Supreme Court has unequivocally held that child pornography and obscenity are not protected speech. The problem is enforcement. Law enforcement and prosecutors don’t have the resources to go after these criminals. This new Mississippi law is a force multiplier.”

“Child porn is a billion dollar industry. Big Porn is a $100 billion industry and much of that money is being made from harmful, degrading and legally questionable content,” said Taylor. “Mississippi is saying no to Big Porn so that we can keep our kids safe when they go online.”

“We commend Governor Tate Reeves for signing this bill into law and protecting kids from predators and abusers. Internet obscenity has no constitutional protection and contributes nothing to the exchange of ideas the First Amendment is intended to protect,” concluded Dellinger. “This bill would not have become law without the tireless dedication of its author, Rep. Price Wallace. We also want to thank Speaker Jason White, Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann, House Judiciary Chairman Joey Hood and Senate Judiciary Chairman Brice Wiggins for getting this bill to the governor’s desk.”

AFA Action is a non-profit 501(c)(4) organization dedicated to advancing biblical family values in society and government by shaping public policy through education and advocacy. The mission of AFA Action is to inform and mobilize individuals to strengthen the biblical foundations of America by persuading individuals with the truth of the Gospel, challenging the lost to repent, promoting societal values that are consistent with Scripture, restraining evil and exposing the works of darkness, motivating people to take a stand on cultural and moral issues, and encouraging Christians to bear witness to the world the love of Jesus Christ. Find AFA Action Alerts here. 

For more information on the American Family Association, visit www.afa.net or follow AFA on Facebook or X.        

For more information on AFA Action, visit www.afaaction.net or follow AFA Action on Facebook or X.

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To interview an AFA or AFA Action spokesperson, contact [email protected] or Beth Bogucki, 610.584.1096, ext. 105, Dawn Foglein, ext. 100, or Daniel Moyer, ext. 104.