Florida draft law mandating encryption backdoors for social media accounts billed ‘dangerous and dumb’

A bill in Florida is making waves as it moves forward in the legislative process. If passed, the bill would require social media companies to provide encryption backdoors for law enforcement officials to access user accounts. The bill, known as “Social Media Use by Minors” (SB 868), also includes provisions for parents or guardians to access a child’s account and restricts certain features for child accounts.

Despite unanimous approval from Florida lawmakers, critics argue that weakening encryption could compromise user safety and lead to data breaches. Tech companies like Apple, Google, and Meta are increasingly encrypting user data to enhance privacy and security.

The Electronic Frontier Foundation has criticized the bill, stating that encryption is crucial for protecting online communications. The organization warns that the proposed law could make minors less safe by potentially removing encryption for this group.

The bill builds upon a previous state law that restricted social media use for individuals under 16, which is currently facing legal challenges regarding its constitutionality. It’s unclear how the new bill would impact the requirements for social media companies to comply with law enforcement subpoenas.

In the Florida House, a corresponding bill (HB 743) is also progressing through the legislative process. Once it clears its final committee vote, it will move to the House floor for consideration.