HB1198

Hawaii HB1198 amends statutes to regulate the distribution of material harmful to minors on the internet.

Hawaii HB1198 amends Chapter 489X of the Hawaii Revised Statutes by adding a new section that mandates commercial entities to verify the age of individuals accessing material harmful to minors on the internet. Material harmful to minors includes descriptions or representations of nudity, sexual conduct, or sadomasochistic abuse that appeal to minors' prurient interest or are patently offensive. Entities must use a commercially available database or another reasonable method to ensure users are 18 or older. Violations result in a civil penalty of $250 per incident and liability for damages.