1. United States
2. Va.
3. Letter

The proposed SCREEN Act raises concerns about potential negative impacts on educational resources, non-profit organizations, and public access to information. While the intent to protect minors from harmful content is understandable, implementing age verification requirements broadly across websites could inadvertently restrict access to valuable educational materials and resources that benefit society. There are fears it could create barriers for students, researchers, and the general public in accessing educational content and knowledge repositories online. It is crucial to strike a balance between protecting minors and preserving the free flow of information that facilitates learning and advances societal progress. Perhaps more targeted approaches focused specifically on explicit pornographic websites would be a better solution than sweeping requirements that could unintentionally hamper legitimate educational and non-profit endeavors. A measured approach accounting for potential unintended consequences is advisable to safeguard the interests of minors while upholding open access to knowledge.