The proposal of the misleadingly named "Parents Decide Act" (H.R. 8250) is a deeply flawed bill, as it requires federally mandated identity checks in order to access devices like a smartphone or computer. This legislation forces operating system providers (like Windows, Apple & Google) to deny access unless presented with a federally acceptable identity check, which has clearly overstepped First Amendment rights.

For example, the Samsung T9000 is a smart home appliance that operates on Tizen OS, a Linux-based operating system. With its overly broad and vague stipulations, is it fair to question whether this bill would demand that I verify my identity before even opening a smart fridge? Why should something as simple as opening a refrigerator come with such hurdles?

Unfortunately, the most damaging laws proposed as of late conceal themselves under the guise of protecting the kids. Truly protecting children on the internet involves meaningful education about the digital world, rather than imposing restriction and surveillance across the board. It is important to allow children to reach an appropriate level of maturity to discern and navigate online interactions. Parents need to be the parents, not the federal government.

As established by the numerous data breaches of high profile companies such as Facebook/Meta, until digital infrastructure is robust enough to secure user data, mandating the mass collection of sensitive personal identifiers creates a gold mine for criminals. Whether that be the very same company that sells your data as they collect it, or the disgusting predators who lurk on the dark web, this law is the antithesis of protection. To put this into perspective;

• Would it not be lunacy to mandate that every financial institution must declare how much money is kept on-site at all times? Does it not impose a security risk to advertise the real-time payout to criminals?

Then why is it that we don't treat the relative anonymity on the internet the same? The key difference here is the money in that bank is insured by the government, but the protection of your child is not. If anything, the target painted on the back of children is assured if this law comes to pass.

We must call attention to the misleading nature of this bill and lack of accountability in our government. This is not a left vs right battle of ideological values. When have you ever seen both parties unanimously agree on policy? When congress is known for it's lengthy and drawn out back-and-forth process, oddities like these are a problem. No, this is the American people fighting for what's right. 

• It's about mothers and fathers standing up for the innocent children of this world who cannot stand up for themselves.
• It's about the individual who makes their voice heard by those who wish to see it go silent.
• It's about doing SOMETHING at a time when doing nothing has never been easier.  

If you truly care about the kids of this great nation, please spread awareness and speak out against other such deceptive legislation. This petition serves as a vessel, not the goal. If you decide to support and sign, keep in mind that widespread public outcry is what will lead to true change.