Local Officials Face Strict New Rules on Accessing Pornographic Material

‍

Our CEO, Tom Blanchard, recently appeared on Queen City News to talk about new rules in North Carolina that stop local government employees from using public agency devices or networks to view pornographic material. 

These rules are part of the state’s efforts to keep work environments professional and safe. Let’s break them down and see how they relate to other laws that might affect your business.

‍

What are the new rules?

Starting January 1, 2025, the new guidelines in North Carolina will ban government workers, elected officials, and students of public agencies from accessing pornography on any device or network that’s owned or managed by their agency. 

This rule applies to all branches of government—executive, judicial, and legislative—in the state. The idea is simple: keep government resources focused on work and make sure taxpayer-funded tools aren’t used inappropriately.

To make this work, public agencies in North Carolina must create clear policies that explain the rules. They also need to outline what happens if someone breaks them. 

Plus, every year, these agencies have to report to the State Chief Information Officer about any incidents where someone tried to view pornography.

Are there any exceptions?

Yes, there are exceptions, but they’re limited to specific job duties. For example, law enforcement officers, cybersecurity experts, and legal professionals might need to view certain materials as part of their work. 

However, these exceptions are only allowed when they are part of official duties, and there’s no room for personal use.

‍

North Carolina's PAVE Act: Another step toward regulation

These rules for government workers are part of a bigger trend in North Carolina. The state also passed the Pornography Age Verification Enforcement Act (PAVE Act), which started on January 1, 2024. 

This law requires people to verify their age before they can access pornographic websites. Signed by Governor Roy Cooper in September 2023, the goal is to stop minors from seeing explicit material online.

Deputy Majority Whip Rep. Jon Hardister, one of the PAVE Act’s main sponsors, said the law is about protecting kids from X-rated content. But it’s not without controversy. Some people argue that it could affect privacy rights or limit personal freedoms.

During his Queen City News interview, Tom Blanchard noted, “This is really straightforward. This is a common request. I mean parents do it to their kids' phones. This shouldn't be that big of a deal from a technology perspective.” 

The role of technology in making it happen

Tom pointed out that the tools needed to enforce these rules are pretty easy to set up. Systems that track network activity and block access to inappropriate content are already widely available. 

At Sterling Technology Solutions, we help businesses, schools, and government agencies implement these solutions so they stay compliant and secure.

‍

Sterling Technology Solutions: Supporting today’s digital policies

New rules like these show just how important it is to have reliable systems in place for managing technology. At Sterling Technology Solutions, we’re here to help organizations, including public agencies, keep their IT environments secure and in line with the latest rules.

We make it simple to set up tools that block inappropriate content and create network policies that follow the law. This helps organizations stay compliant while also protecting their operations from potential risks.

At Sterling, we believe in keeping things clear and accountable. If your organization is dealing with these new digital policies or needs help strengthening its IT setup, we can guide you every step of the way. Let’s work together to make your technology safer and more reliable.