Last Name:RashOrganization:citizenLocality:Crewe VA
Wyatt’s HB 1817 addresses an overdue issue: data protection for children. As a grieving parent who has experienced the devastating impact of inadequate digital privacy laws, I strongly support this legislation. My story underscores the urgency today.
In 2011, my son Eric took his life. That morning, I received a call that led me to find him. The details remain vivid, but what haunts me most is the unanswered question: did Eric have a private, “dark” page online where he expressed thoughts he couldn’t share elsewhere? Law enforcement indicated such spaces existed—pages set up by minors to explore dark thoughts—but my access to Eric’s digital life was blocked by outdated laws and corporate policies.
In my quest for answers, I encountered barriers. Facebook provided canned responses, citing the Electronic Communications Privacy Act (ECPA) and the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) as reasons for denying access. Both laws, written decades ago, failed to account for modern digital realities. Despite being Eric’s parent, I was powerless to understand what contributed to his tragic decision.
After enduring profound grief, my wife and I advocated for change. We proposed a bill to allow parents access to a deceased minor’s digital accounts without navigating an arduous legal process. At the time, I described how this lack of access could reduce a child to just a birth certificate and a tombstone. With support from Delegate Tommy Wright and Senator Frank Ruff, the bill passed unanimously in Virginia, granting families some closure. Yet, this fight revealed a deeper issue: why were social media companies allowed to engage minors in binding agreements without parental consent?
Technology has outpaced oversight. Schools required students to create email accounts for academic purposes, often without parents understanding the implications. Social media’s rise coincided with a lack of accountability, as platforms prioritized growth and profit over user protection.
Efforts to update federal laws have repeatedly stalled. Congress debated ECPA revisions, but meaningful reform never materialized. Meanwhile, social media companies made superficial adjustments, such as allowing limited access to a deceased child’s account. These measures fail to address systemic issues that exploit legal gray areas.
The Virginia legislature now has an opportunity to lead by example. HB 1817 can send a strong message: children’s data deserves robust protection. Social media platforms must be held accountable for fostering environments that contribute to rising teen suicide rates. In my role as a school employee, I witness the harmful effects of social media on young people every day. These platforms amplify anxiety and insecurity, exacerbating mental health challenges.
In 2013, I was labeled a “dumb farmer” by opponents of digital access reform. Yet persistence earned their respect and led to meaningful change. Today, I stand ready to fight again for reforms that prioritize children’s safety over corporate interests. Social media companies must no longer exploit parents’ grief to maintain the status quo.
The tragedy of losing Eric drives me to prevent other families from enduring the same pain. I urge lawmakers to act decisively. It is time to hold social media accountable, protect children’s digital lives, and ensure that no parent faces the obstacles I did. Together, we can create a future where technology serves families, not the other way around.
Last Name:JanuaryOrganization:Chamber of ProgressLocality:Washington, DC
Last Name:RashOrganization:digital oversightLocality:Crewe VA
Delegate Wyatt’s HB 1817 addresses an overdue issue: data protection for children. As a grieving parent who has experienced the devastating impact of inadequate digital privacy laws, I strongly support this legislation. My story underscores the urgency of this matter.
My son took his life in 2011, I received a call that led me to find him. The details remain vivid, but what haunts me most is the unanswered question: did Eric have a private, “dark” page online where he expressed thoughts he couldn’t share elsewhere? Law enforcement indicated such spaces existed—pages set up by minors to explore dark thoughts—but my access to Eric’s digital life was blocked by outdated laws and corporate policies.
In my quest for answers, I encountered barriers. Facebook provided canned responses, citing the Electronic Communications Privacy Act (ECPA) and the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) as reasons for denying access. Both laws, written decades ago, failed to account for modern digital realities. Despite being Eric’s parent, I was powerless to understand what contributed to his tragic decision.
After enduring profound grief, my wife and I advocated for change. We proposed a bill to allow parents access to a deceased minor’s digital accounts without navigating an arduous legal process. At the time, I described how this lack of access could reduce a child to just a birth certificate and a tombstone. With support from Delegate Tommy Wright and Senator Frank Ruff, the bill passed unanimously in Virginia, granting families some closure. Yet, this fight revealed a deeper issue: why were social media companies allowed to engage minors in binding agreements without parental consent?
Technology has outpaced oversight. Schools required students to create email accounts for academic purposes, often without parents understanding the implications. Social media’s rise coincided with a lack of accountability, as platforms prioritized growth and profit over user protection.
Efforts to update federal laws have repeatedly stalled. Congress debated ECPA revisions, but meaningful reform never materialized. Meanwhile, social media companies made superficial adjustments, such as allowing limited access to a deceased child’s account. These measures fail to address systemic issues that exploit legal gray areas.
The Virginia legislature now has an opportunity to lead by example. HB 1817 can send a strong message: children’s data deserves robust protection. Social media platforms must be held accountable for fostering environments that contribute to rising teen suicide rates. In my role as a school employee, I witness the harmful effects of social media on young people every day. These platforms amplify anxiety and insecurity, exacerbating mental health challenges.
In 2013, I was labeled a “dumb farmer” by opponents of digital access reform. Yet persistence earned their respect and led to meaningful change. Today, I stand ready to fight again for reforms that prioritize children’s safety over corporate interests. Social media companies must no longer exploit parents’ grief to maintain the status quo.
The tragedy of losing Eric drives me to prevent other families from enduring the same pain. I urge lawmakers to act decisively. It is time to hold social media accountable, protect children’s digital lives, and ensure that no parent faces the obstacles I did. We can create a future where technology serves families, not the other way around.
Last Name:DurkinOrganization:TechNetLocality:Harrisburg, PA
Please let me know about anything to do with ANY SOLAR or wind. Also why aren't you working on lowering this socialism health obamare that is failing! We pay double our house payment for healthcare. They do a certain percentage of what u make a year. I have to take money out of my 401k for healthcare that counts as income. It shouldn't count as income when you are taxing the heck out of us. We can't travel,most our prescriptions we use to take won't be covered and could go on and on about this robbery of people s hard earned money!
HB1817 - Consumer Data Protection Act; social media, parental consent.
Comments Document
In opposition. See attached.
Wyatt’s HB 1817 addresses an overdue issue: data protection for children. As a grieving parent who has experienced the devastating impact of inadequate digital privacy laws, I strongly support this legislation. My story underscores the urgency today. In 2011, my son Eric took his life. That morning, I received a call that led me to find him. The details remain vivid, but what haunts me most is the unanswered question: did Eric have a private, “dark” page online where he expressed thoughts he couldn’t share elsewhere? Law enforcement indicated such spaces existed—pages set up by minors to explore dark thoughts—but my access to Eric’s digital life was blocked by outdated laws and corporate policies. In my quest for answers, I encountered barriers. Facebook provided canned responses, citing the Electronic Communications Privacy Act (ECPA) and the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) as reasons for denying access. Both laws, written decades ago, failed to account for modern digital realities. Despite being Eric’s parent, I was powerless to understand what contributed to his tragic decision. After enduring profound grief, my wife and I advocated for change. We proposed a bill to allow parents access to a deceased minor’s digital accounts without navigating an arduous legal process. At the time, I described how this lack of access could reduce a child to just a birth certificate and a tombstone. With support from Delegate Tommy Wright and Senator Frank Ruff, the bill passed unanimously in Virginia, granting families some closure. Yet, this fight revealed a deeper issue: why were social media companies allowed to engage minors in binding agreements without parental consent? Technology has outpaced oversight. Schools required students to create email accounts for academic purposes, often without parents understanding the implications. Social media’s rise coincided with a lack of accountability, as platforms prioritized growth and profit over user protection. Efforts to update federal laws have repeatedly stalled. Congress debated ECPA revisions, but meaningful reform never materialized. Meanwhile, social media companies made superficial adjustments, such as allowing limited access to a deceased child’s account. These measures fail to address systemic issues that exploit legal gray areas. The Virginia legislature now has an opportunity to lead by example. HB 1817 can send a strong message: children’s data deserves robust protection. Social media platforms must be held accountable for fostering environments that contribute to rising teen suicide rates. In my role as a school employee, I witness the harmful effects of social media on young people every day. These platforms amplify anxiety and insecurity, exacerbating mental health challenges. In 2013, I was labeled a “dumb farmer” by opponents of digital access reform. Yet persistence earned their respect and led to meaningful change. Today, I stand ready to fight again for reforms that prioritize children’s safety over corporate interests. Social media companies must no longer exploit parents’ grief to maintain the status quo. The tragedy of losing Eric drives me to prevent other families from enduring the same pain. I urge lawmakers to act decisively. It is time to hold social media accountable, protect children’s digital lives, and ensure that no parent faces the obstacles I did. Together, we can create a future where technology serves families, not the other way around.
Comments Document
See Attached.
Comments Document
TechNet comments on HB 1817 are attached.
Delegate Wyatt’s HB 1817 addresses an overdue issue: data protection for children. As a grieving parent who has experienced the devastating impact of inadequate digital privacy laws, I strongly support this legislation. My story underscores the urgency of this matter. My son took his life in 2011, I received a call that led me to find him. The details remain vivid, but what haunts me most is the unanswered question: did Eric have a private, “dark” page online where he expressed thoughts he couldn’t share elsewhere? Law enforcement indicated such spaces existed—pages set up by minors to explore dark thoughts—but my access to Eric’s digital life was blocked by outdated laws and corporate policies. In my quest for answers, I encountered barriers. Facebook provided canned responses, citing the Electronic Communications Privacy Act (ECPA) and the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) as reasons for denying access. Both laws, written decades ago, failed to account for modern digital realities. Despite being Eric’s parent, I was powerless to understand what contributed to his tragic decision. After enduring profound grief, my wife and I advocated for change. We proposed a bill to allow parents access to a deceased minor’s digital accounts without navigating an arduous legal process. At the time, I described how this lack of access could reduce a child to just a birth certificate and a tombstone. With support from Delegate Tommy Wright and Senator Frank Ruff, the bill passed unanimously in Virginia, granting families some closure. Yet, this fight revealed a deeper issue: why were social media companies allowed to engage minors in binding agreements without parental consent? Technology has outpaced oversight. Schools required students to create email accounts for academic purposes, often without parents understanding the implications. Social media’s rise coincided with a lack of accountability, as platforms prioritized growth and profit over user protection. Efforts to update federal laws have repeatedly stalled. Congress debated ECPA revisions, but meaningful reform never materialized. Meanwhile, social media companies made superficial adjustments, such as allowing limited access to a deceased child’s account. These measures fail to address systemic issues that exploit legal gray areas. The Virginia legislature now has an opportunity to lead by example. HB 1817 can send a strong message: children’s data deserves robust protection. Social media platforms must be held accountable for fostering environments that contribute to rising teen suicide rates. In my role as a school employee, I witness the harmful effects of social media on young people every day. These platforms amplify anxiety and insecurity, exacerbating mental health challenges. In 2013, I was labeled a “dumb farmer” by opponents of digital access reform. Yet persistence earned their respect and led to meaningful change. Today, I stand ready to fight again for reforms that prioritize children’s safety over corporate interests. Social media companies must no longer exploit parents’ grief to maintain the status quo. The tragedy of losing Eric drives me to prevent other families from enduring the same pain. I urge lawmakers to act decisively. It is time to hold social media accountable, protect children’s digital lives, and ensure that no parent faces the obstacles I did. We can create a future where technology serves families, not the other way around.
Comments Document
TechNet's comments on HB 1817 are attached.
Please let me know about anything to do with ANY SOLAR or wind. Also why aren't you working on lowering this socialism health obamare that is failing! We pay double our house payment for healthcare. They do a certain percentage of what u make a year. I have to take money out of my 401k for healthcare that counts as income. It shouldn't count as income when you are taxing the heck out of us. We can't travel,most our prescriptions we use to take won't be covered and could go on and on about this robbery of people s hard earned money!