Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch has filed a brief with the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, urging the court to overturn a preliminary injunction that blocked the enforcement of House Bill 1126, known as the Walker Montgomery Protecting Children Online Act.
The law, which was unanimously passed by the state legislature, was designed to protect minors from online dangers, but was halted in July following a legal challenge.
“I will continue to fight for this commonsense law because our children’s mental health, physical security, and innocence should not take a back seat to Big Tech profits,” said Fitch. “These platforms pose a serious risk to our children, and their futures depend on our willingness to protect them in this digital era.”
The brief outlines the purpose of the law, requiring platforms to take “commercially reasonable” steps to verify users’ ages, obtain parental consent for minors, and develop strategies to reduce risks like child exploitation, bullying, and incitement to self-harm. The law emphasizes efforts that are reasonable and attainable for social media companies, rather than demanding costly or impractical measures.
The legal challenge was initiated by NetChoice, a group representing major social media companies like Google and Meta, which frequently opposes state efforts to regulate online content. HB 1126 aims to shield children from harmful online content, including grooming, cyberbullying, and the glorification of drug abuse. It is named after Walker Montgomery, a Starkville teenager who tragically lost his life after falling victim to a social media sextortion scam.
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Attorney General Fitch, a vocal advocate for children’s online safety, made HB 1126 a top legislative priority earlier this year and remains committed to pushing for its implementation.
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