COLUMBUS, Ohio (WOWO) — A new proposal at the Statehouse would force schools, public libraries, and state agencies to ensure the online databases they use block material deemed inappropriate for minors — deepening an ongoing debate over censorship, education, and parental oversight in Ohio.
House Bill 583 would require any vendor that provides online research databases to Ohio institutions to filter out content considered “obscene,” “harmful to juveniles,” or depicting child sexual exploitation. If a vendor fails to comply, the state could withhold payment, demand refunds, or terminate the contract. Schools and libraries would also be required to alert the Ohio Attorney General if they discover violations according to NBC-4 Columbus.
The bill’s sponsors, Reps. Kevin Ritter of Marietta and Jonathan Newman of Troy, did not respond to NBC4’s request for comment, and supporters have yet to publicly lay out their case. But conservative advocacy groups say the legislation is needed to prevent inappropriate content from reaching minors through taxpayer-funded institutions…