During a recent government meeting, several speakers addressed the urgent issue of protecting children from online dangers, particularly related to human trafficking and inappropriate content. Tammy Brown Rodriguez, director of policy at Jacob Boyens Ministries, shared a personal story about her niece, who was trafficked for 15 years. She emphasized the need for stricter regulations on online resources that expose children to harmful content, urging lawmakers to clean up educational databases that include inappropriate material.

Rodriguez highlighted the role of schools in normalizing hypersexuality and called for immediate action to prevent further victimization of children. She mentioned a proposed data bill aimed at enhancing protections for children online, which has seen success in other states.

Zach Whiting from the Texas Public Policy Foundation provided several policy recommendations. He suggested prohibiting personal smart devices during school hours to minimize distractions and improve learning. He also advocated for stronger filters on devices and age verification measures for social media platforms, likening social media to an addictive substance that requires regulation.

Carla Riedel from CHCS in San Antonio discussed the rising mental health issues among children linked to social media use. She urged for stricter privacy protections and highlighted a community program aimed at educating parents and children about responsible online behavior.

The meeting also touched on the challenges posed by artificial intelligence in creating harmful content. Whiting noted the need for enhanced protections against AI-generated threats, particularly deepfakes used by predators.

The absence of representatives from major tech companies was noted, as they are currently involved in litigation against proposed legislation aimed at increasing online safety for children. Despite this, committee members expressed optimism about moving forward with protective measures.

Overall, the meeting underscored a collective commitment to addressing the complex issues surrounding child safety in the digital age, with a focus on legislative action and community education.