A new law in Mississippi will require vendors that offer digital resources in Mississippi schools to have content safety policies and moderation practices in place.

Obligations

Mississippi Code § 37-11-81, effective July 1, 2023, provides that certain Mississippi schools may offer digital or online resources or databases to K-12 students only if the vendor or person or entity providing the resources verifies that the resources will comply with the following:

• The entity/provider has safety policies and technology protection measures in place that:
  • Prohibit and prevent a person from sending, receiving, viewing, or downloading materials that are:
    • Child pornography.
    • Materials that depict or promote child sexual exploitation or trafficking.
    • Obscene materials (as defined in Sec. 37-11-81(c)).
    • Materials that are sexually oriented (as defined in Sec. 97-5-27(2)).
  • Block, or otherwise prohibit and prevent, access to obscene materials, inappropriate materials, materials that are sexually oriented, or materials that depict, describe, or promote child pornography or child sexual exploitation.

Read the full blog post here on Perkins on Privacy.