North Carolina Bans Porn on Government Networks and Devices

RALEIGH, N.C.—A new law banning the use of porn and sexually explicit content on government-owned internet networks and devices will enter force on October 1, 2024. This requirement was adopted alongside overhauls to the state’s human trafficking prevention laws as part of House Bill (HB) 971, which was signed into law by Gov. Roy Cooper, a moderate Democrat.  HB 971 mandates that “a public agency shall not permit the viewing of pornography by its employees on a network of that public agency.” This applies to all employees and public officials of the executive, judicial and legislative branches of the North Carolina government.  A similar regulation applies to any device owned by the government or a public agency, per the new statute.  The new law states, “Each public agency shall adopt a policy governing the use of its network and devices owned, leased, maintained, or otherwise controlled by that public agency. The judicial and legislative branches shall adopt a policy governing the use of that branch's networks and devices owned, leased, maintained, or otherwise controlled by those branches.” There are no clear penalties for violators of these new rules. Expectations for penalties would likely include termination of employment.  Nationwide, governments have banned public officials and employees from accessing sexually explicit content on government-owned internet and devices.  Agencies at the federal level and congressional offices have been enforcing fair use policies that block porn access for years.  North Carolina is also one of 19 states with age verification requirements to access pornographic content on private internet networks. Besides the age verification law, there are no other restrictions on government employees in North Carolina from accessing adult content on their own devices.