The Maryland Speech Code puts the government in charge of what information residents can access online, forcing websites to police speech and violating the First Amendment. Beyond censorship, the law also threatens cybersecurity. It basically mandates that services either impose sweeping speech restrictions and conduct rigorous policing of speech online or conduct age verification to properly comply with the law. This creates a massive data collection risk that could expose users—especially minors—to identity theft and cyberattacks.
The law further undermines parental authority by replacing parents with big government, limiting families’ ability to make their own decisions about their digital presence. Courts have already stopped a nearly identical speech code in California and similar laws in Texas, Arkansas, Utah, Mississippi, and Ohio. Maryland’s law is no different, and we’re confident the courts will block it.
Rather than restricting speech, risking cybersecurity, and replacing parents, Maryland lawmakers should focus on meaningful and legal solutions, such as enforcing existing laws against online predators, increasing law enforcement resources, and promoting parental education on digital safety tools. The Maryland Speech Code is about government overreach, censorship, and undermining personal freedoms—while doing nothing to meaningfully enhance online safety.
Read NetChoice’s full complaint here.
NetChoice Experts on the Maryland Speech Code
Chris Marchese
Paul Taske
