Missouri Bill to Protect Minors from Digital Media Harms and Deepfakes Withdrawn After Committee Approval
Missouri's HCS HBs 3393 & 2392, a legislative effort aimed at protecting minors from digital media harms and deepfakes, was withdrawn after passing the House Committee on Emerging Issues. The bill, introduced by Rep. Don Mayhew (HB 3393) and Rep. Marty Joe Murray (HB 2392, known as the "Missouri Social Media Safety for Minors Act"), sought to repeal existing sections and introduce new ones to enhance protections for individuals, particularly minors, affected by digital media. It addressed issues such as the proliferation of deepfakes, the addictive nature of social media platforms, and the need for robust age verification mechanisms. The legislation proposed banning social media accounts for children under 14 and requiring verified parental consent for minors between 14 and 16 years old. It also aimed to make it a felony to distribute deepfakes involving a child and targeted addictive design features in social media. Despite a "Do Pass" recommendation from the committee on April 2, 2026, the bill did not r... 
