This bill, introduced in the Minnesota House of Representatives, aims to enhance consumer protection by requiring age verification for websites that contain material deemed harmful to minors. Key provisions of the bill are:

1. Age Verification Requirement:

   • Commercial entities that share or distribute content harmful to minors on websites where such material makes up at least 25% of viewed pages in any calendar month must verify that users are 18 years or older.
     
   • Age verification must be conducted using a commercially available database or another method approved by the Commissioner of Commerce.

2. Definitions:

   • The bill defines key terms, including "material harmful to minors," which includes explicit depictions of sexual content, "commercial entity," and "interactive computer service."

3. Data Privacy Protections:

   • Commercial entities cannot retain identifying information used for age verification.
     
   • Violations of this provision may result in liability for damages, including attorney fees.

4. Enforcement and Penalties:

   • The Minnesota Attorney General can investigate reports of violations and bring civil enforcement actions.
     
   • Parents or guardians of minors who access material without age verification can sue commercial entities for damages, legal costs, and equitable relief.
     
   • Entities found in violation may face civil penalties of up to $25,000 per violation.

5. Exemptions:

   • The bill does not impose obligations or liabilities on internet service providers or users of interactive computer services.

This legislation is designed to prevent minors from accessing explicit online content by mandating age verification requirements for applicable commercial websites, while also ensuring data privacy protections for users.