Arizona Content Liability Bill Defeated

HB 2660 killed by 4-2 Vote

The Arizona Daily Star reported this morning that the bill that could hold content creators liable for influencing crimes and terrorism was stopped cold.

Claiming that the line between what is protected and what is subject to liability is not clear, HB 2660 was killed by the Arizona State Senate Judiciary Committee.  The bill would have allowed material deemed “dangerous” and “obscene” and considered an assistance in either a felony or an act of terror to be liable for civil damages.  We’ve explained previously what the bill considered both of those terms to mean.

Interesting to note, the bill was not necessarily written by an anti-media group or individual, but a man at the forefront of rape victim’s rights in Arizona.  Keith Perkins, the author, is the head of the Never Again Foundation.  They represent victims in civil suits.

The Star article notes this on the death of HB 2660:

Despite Monday’s vote, Rep. Warde Nichols, R-Gilbert, said he still believes it was a victory. He said it is necessary for lawmakers to debate, and eventually alter, the line between the First Amendment right of people to write, film and record what they want and the rights of crime victims to sue those who may be at least partly responsible.