88R7739 MLH-D     By: Campos H.B. No. 1594       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to the duties of social media companies regarding   prostitution and trafficking of persons; creating a criminal   offense.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Title 99, Business & Commerce Code, is amended by   adding Chapter 2005 to read as follows:   CHAPTER 2005. DUTIES OF SOCIAL MEDIA COMPANY REGARDING   PROSTITUTION AND TRAFFICKING OF PERSONS          Sec. 2005.001.  DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:                (1)  "Social media company" means a business entity   that provides or operates a social media website.                (2)  "Social media website" means an interactive   Internet website or application that enables multiple users to   communicate with other users by posting, creating, sharing, or   viewing content, including instant messages, blogs, information,   comments, videos, and images. The term includes Facebook,   Instagram, and Twitter.          Sec. 2005.002.  PROSTITUTION AND TRAFFICKING OF PERSONS ON   SOCIAL MEDIA WEBSITES. (a) A social media company may not allow a   person to use the company's social media website for engaging in   conduct that constitutes an offense under Chapter 20A, Penal Code,   or Subchapter A, Chapter 43, Penal Code.          (b)  A social media company that discovers a person is using   the company's social media website to engage in conduct described   by Subsection (a) shall:                (1)  preserve the offending content;                (2)  notify the appropriate law enforcement authority;                (3)  remove the offending content from being publicly   accessible; and                (4)  either:                      (A)  suspend the account to which the content was   posted; or                      (B)  issue a warning to the account holder that   posted the content.          (c)  A social media company commits an offense if the company   violates this section. An offense under this subsection is a Class   A misdemeanor except that the offense is a state jail felony if the   conduct is committed intentionally or knowingly.          SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.