MONTPELIER, Vt.—Yesterday, Vermont Gov. Phil Scott vetoed H.121, which included amendments that would have endangered the privacy of all Vermonters and their children online, inhibited their speech rights and would have failed to protect a single citizen from harm.
“NetChoice hopes to work with Gov. Scott and the legislature next session on effective, constitutional solutions to create a better online experience for all Vermonters and their children,” said Carl Szabo, NetChoice Vice President & General Counsel. “An unconstitutional law will protect no one, and we are glad to see that Gov. Scott recognized this.”
Working together, we can create a positive digital experience that protects Vermonters, their families and their rights. Some of those solutions include:
- Holding child abusers accountable by prosecuting more of them, as far too many reports of CSAM offenses are insufficiently investigated and prosecuted.
Law enforcement only currently has the capacity to investigate less than 1 percent of reported CSAM violations. But when these cases are properly investigated, 75 percent of them are successful at putting predators in prison.
- Investing in child safety by equipping law enforcement with the resources required to properly investigate reports of abuse, both on and offline.
Sen. Ron Wyden’s Invest in Child Safety Act, if enacted, would provide federal, state and local law enforcement with the resources they need to combat the abuse of children online.
- Empowering parents with educational materials to understand the safety tools available to them right now to keep their kids safe so they feel confident in making decisions for their family’s digital presence.
Companies and the government should inform parents about the children’s safety tools offered to them right now on digital devices and platforms.
- Launching easy-to-use resources about digital safety and security best practices.
Americans have the power to control our unique, individual uses of all types of digital tools. Easily accessible resources can help us understand the best ways to keep our data secure and our private information safe.
- Developing a digital literacy and safety curriculum for kids in the classroom to better prepare them for modern challenges, following examples from Virginia and Florida
Developing educational resources is key. Kids can learn about digital tools and form an understanding of healthy online practices in a classroom environment.
You can learn more about various policy proposals to improve the online experience here.
Please contact Krista Chavez at press@netchoice.org with inquiries.