{
  "batch": "388-west-virginia-age-verification-as-it-lands-on-a-creator",
  "articles": [
    {
      "id": "learn_r388_west_virginia_age_verification_as_it_lands_on_a_creator_west_virginia_388_c1",
      "category": "Safety",
      "title": "West Virginia: anchor",
      "summary": "West Virginia's age-verification law is W. Va. Code Chapter 49A (Child Online Protection and Liability), Article 1 (Liability for Publishers and Distributors of Sexual Material Harmful to Minors), §§49A-1-101 to 49A-1-106, on the Legislature's code site.",
      "body": "West Virginia's age-verification law is W. Va. Code Chapter 49A (Child Online Protection and Liability), Article 1 (Liability for Publishers and Distributors of Sexual Material Harmful to Minors), §§49A-1-101 to 49A-1-106, on the Legislature's code site.\n\nWhat West Virginia Legislature (West Virginia Code) actually says:\n\n“CHAPTER 49A. CHILD ONLINE PROTECTION AND LIABILITY. All Articles ARTICLE 1. LIABILITY FOR PUBLISHERS AND DISTRIBUTORS OF SEXUAL MATERIAL HARMFUL TO MINORS.”\n\nNote: Claude session research 2026-10-23 (web search + fetch of the official page); quote re-checked by the verify gate",
      "source_type": "official",
      "source_link": "https://code.wvlegislature.gov/49A-1-101/",
      "last_verified": "2026-10-23",
      "reliability": "VERIFIED RULE",
      "source_tier": "A",
      "source_publisher": "West Virginia Legislature (West Virginia Code)",
      "evidence_quote": "CHAPTER 49A. CHILD ONLINE PROTECTION AND LIABILITY. All Articles ARTICLE 1. LIABILITY FOR PUBLISHERS AND DISTRIBUTORS OF SEXUAL MATERIAL HARMFUL TO MINORS.",
      "volatility": "low",
      "from_batch": "388-west-virginia-age-verification-as-it-lands-on-a-creator",
      "subject": "West Virginia",
      "topic": "anchor",
      "applies_to_country": "US",
      "applies_to_scope": "WV",
      "tags": {
        "lane": "any",
        "stage": "any",
        "region": [
          "us-wv"
        ],
        "platform": "any",
        "topic": [
          "unclassified"
        ],
        "explicitness": "any"
      }
    },
    {
      "id": "learn_r388_west_virginia_age_verification_as_it_lands_on_a_creator_west_virginia_388_c2",
      "category": "Safety",
      "title": "West Virginia: (a) in force + effective date",
      "summary": "West Virginia has an age-verification statute in force: Enrolled Committee Substitute for HB 4412 passed March 14, 2026 and took effect June 12, 2026.",
      "body": "West Virginia has an age-verification statute in force: Enrolled Committee Substitute for HB 4412 passed March 14, 2026 and took effect June 12, 2026.\n\nWhat West Virginia Legislature (2026 Enrolled Bill HB 4412) actually says:\n\n“[Passed March 14, 2026; in effect 90 days from passage (June 12, 2026)]”\n\nNote: Claude session research 2026-10-23 (web search + fetch of the official page); quote re-checked by the verify gate",
      "source_type": "official",
      "source_link": "https://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Text_HTML/2026_SESSIONS/RS/bills/hb4412%20sub1%20enr.htm",
      "last_verified": "2026-10-23",
      "reliability": "VERIFIED RULE",
      "source_tier": "A",
      "source_publisher": "West Virginia Legislature (2026 Enrolled Bill HB 4412)",
      "evidence_quote": "[Passed March 14, 2026; in effect 90 days from passage (June 12, 2026)]",
      "volatility": "low",
      "from_batch": "388-west-virginia-age-verification-as-it-lands-on-a-creator",
      "subject": "West Virginia",
      "topic": "(a) in force + effective date",
      "applies_to_country": "US",
      "applies_to_scope": "WV",
      "tags": {
        "lane": "any",
        "stage": "any",
        "region": [
          "us-wv"
        ],
        "platform": "any",
        "topic": [
          "unclassified"
        ],
        "explicitness": "any"
      }
    },
    {
      "id": "learn_r388_west_virginia_age_verification_as_it_lands_on_a_creator_west_virginia_388_c3",
      "category": "Safety",
      "title": "West Virginia: (b) who is bound - definition",
      "summary": "§49A-1-101 defines 'commercial entity' to include a sole proprietorship, so an individual creator who knowingly and intentionally publishes such material on their OWN website/app with a substantial portion of it can be bound; a creator selling only through someone else's platform is not the website operator, and the statute's duty attaches to the website/application that contains the substantial portion.",
      "body": "§49A-1-101 defines 'commercial entity' to include a sole proprietorship, so an individual creator who knowingly and intentionally publishes such material on their OWN website/app with a substantial portion of it can be bound; a creator selling only through someone else's platform is not the website operator, and the statute's duty attaches to the website/application that contains the substantial portion.\n\nWhat West Virginia Legislature (West Virginia Code) actually says:\n\n“Commercial entity\" includes a corporation, limited liability company, partnership, limited partnership, sole proprietorship, or other legally recognized entity.”\n\nNote: Claude session research 2026-10-23 (web search + fetch of the official page); quote re-checked by the verify gate",
      "source_type": "official",
      "source_link": "https://code.wvlegislature.gov/49A-1-101/",
      "last_verified": "2026-10-23",
      "reliability": "VERIFIED RULE",
      "source_tier": "A",
      "source_publisher": "West Virginia Legislature (West Virginia Code)",
      "evidence_quote": "Commercial entity\" includes a corporation, limited liability company, partnership, limited partnership, sole proprietorship, or other legally recognized entity.",
      "volatility": "low",
      "from_batch": "388-west-virginia-age-verification-as-it-lands-on-a-creator",
      "subject": "West Virginia",
      "topic": "(b) who is bound - definition",
      "applies_to_country": "US",
      "applies_to_scope": "WV",
      "tags": {
        "lane": "any",
        "stage": "any",
        "region": [
          "us-wv"
        ],
        "platform": "any",
        "topic": [
          "unclassified"
        ],
        "explicitness": "any"
      }
    },
    {
      "id": "learn_r388_west_virginia_age_verification_as_it_lands_on_a_creator_west_virginia_388_c4",
      "category": "Safety",
      "title": "West Virginia: (c) threshold",
      "summary": "§49A-1-101 sets the trigger threshold: 'substantial portion' means more than 33.33% of total material on a website or application.",
      "body": "§49A-1-101 sets the trigger threshold: 'substantial portion' means more than 33.33% of total material on a website or application.\n\nWhat West Virginia Legislature (West Virginia Code) actually says:\n\n“\"Substantial portion\" means more than 33.33% of total material on a website or application, which meets the definition of \"sexual material harmful to minors\" as defined in this section.”\n\nNote: Claude session research 2026-10-23 (web search + fetch of the official page); quote re-checked by the verify gate",
      "source_type": "official",
      "source_link": "https://code.wvlegislature.gov/49A-1-101/",
      "last_verified": "2026-10-23",
      "reliability": "VERIFIED RULE",
      "source_tier": "A",
      "source_publisher": "West Virginia Legislature (West Virginia Code)",
      "evidence_quote": "\"Substantial portion\" means more than 33.33% of total material on a website or application, which meets the definition of \"sexual material harmful to minors\" as defined in this section.",
      "volatility": "low",
      "from_batch": "388-west-virginia-age-verification-as-it-lands-on-a-creator",
      "subject": "West Virginia",
      "topic": "(c) threshold",
      "applies_to_country": "US",
      "applies_to_scope": "WV",
      "tags": {
        "lane": "any",
        "stage": "any",
        "region": [
          "us-wv"
        ],
        "platform": "any",
        "topic": [
          "unclassified"
        ],
        "explicitness": "any"
      }
    },
    {
      "id": "learn_r388_west_virginia_age_verification_as_it_lands_on_a_creator_west_virginia_388_c5",
      "category": "Safety",
      "title": "West Virginia: (b)/(c) duty clause",
      "summary": "§49A-1-104(a) imposes liability on a commercial entity that knowingly and intentionally publishes or distributes such material from a website or application containing a substantial portion of it and fails to verify age.",
      "body": "§49A-1-104(a) imposes liability on a commercial entity that knowingly and intentionally publishes or distributes such material from a website or application containing a substantial portion of it and fails to verify age.\n\nWhat West Virginia Legislature (West Virginia Code) actually says:\n\n“(a) A commercial entity that knowingly and intentionally publishes or distributes sexual material harmful to minors on the internet from a website, or through an application, that contains a substantial portion of such sexual material harmful to minors shall be held liable if the entity fails to perform reasonable age verification methods”\n\nNote: Claude session research 2026-10-23 (web search + fetch of the official page); quote re-checked by the verify gate",
      "source_type": "official",
      "source_link": "https://code.wvlegislature.gov/49A-1-104/",
      "last_verified": "2026-10-23",
      "reliability": "VERIFIED RULE",
      "source_tier": "A",
      "source_publisher": "West Virginia Legislature (West Virginia Code)",
      "evidence_quote": "(a) A commercial entity that knowingly and intentionally publishes or distributes sexual material harmful to minors on the internet from a website, or through an application, that contains a substantial portion of such sexual material harmful to minors shall be held liable if the entity fails to perform reasonable age verification methods",
      "volatility": "low",
      "from_batch": "388-west-virginia-age-verification-as-it-lands-on-a-creator",
      "subject": "West Virginia",
      "topic": "(b)/(c) duty clause",
      "applies_to_country": "US",
      "applies_to_scope": "WV",
      "tags": {
        "lane": "any",
        "stage": "any",
        "region": [
          "us-wv"
        ],
        "platform": "any",
        "topic": [
          "unclassified"
        ],
        "explicitness": "any"
      }
    },
    {
      "id": "learn_r388_west_virginia_age_verification_as_it_lands_on_a_creator_west_virginia_388_c6",
      "category": "Safety",
      "title": "West Virginia: (d) accepted methods",
      "summary": "§49A-1-102(a) accepts digital identification, or a commercial or governmental age-verification system using government-issued ID or transactional data.",
      "body": "§49A-1-102(a) accepts digital identification, or a commercial or governmental age-verification system using government-issued ID or transactional data.\n\nWhat West Virginia Legislature (West Virginia Code) actually says:\n\n“(1) Provide digital identification; or (2) Comply with a commercial or governmental age verification system that verifies age using: (A) Government-issued identification which may be digital identification; or (B) A commercially reasonable method that relies on public or private transactional data to verify the age of an individual.”\n\nNote: Claude session research 2026-10-23 (web search + fetch of the official page); quote re-checked by the verify gate",
      "source_type": "official",
      "source_link": "https://code.wvlegislature.gov/49A-1-102/",
      "last_verified": "2026-10-23",
      "reliability": "VERIFIED RULE",
      "source_tier": "A",
      "source_publisher": "West Virginia Legislature (West Virginia Code)",
      "evidence_quote": "(1) Provide digital identification; or (2) Comply with a commercial or governmental age verification system that verifies age using: (A) Government-issued identification which may be digital identification; or (B) A commercially reasonable method that relies on public or private transactional data to verify the age of an individual.",
      "volatility": "low",
      "from_batch": "388-west-virginia-age-verification-as-it-lands-on-a-creator",
      "subject": "West Virginia",
      "topic": "(d) accepted methods",
      "applies_to_country": "US",
      "applies_to_scope": "WV",
      "tags": {
        "lane": "any",
        "stage": "any",
        "region": [
          "us-wv"
        ],
        "platform": "any",
        "topic": [
          "unclassified"
        ],
        "explicitness": "any"
      }
    },
    {
      "id": "learn_r388_west_virginia_age_verification_as_it_lands_on_a_creator_west_virginia_388_c7",
      "category": "Safety",
      "title": "West Virginia: (e) data retention",
      "summary": "§49A-1-102(b) bars the entity or third-party verifier from retaining identifying information after access is granted.",
      "body": "§49A-1-102(b) bars the entity or third-party verifier from retaining identifying information after access is granted.\n\nWhat West Virginia Legislature (West Virginia Code) actually says:\n\n“(b) A commercial entity, or third party, that performs the required age verification shall not retain any identifying information of the individual after access has been granted to the material”\n\nNote: Claude session research 2026-10-23 (web search + fetch of the official page); quote re-checked by the verify gate",
      "source_type": "official",
      "source_link": "https://code.wvlegislature.gov/49A-1-102/",
      "last_verified": "2026-10-23",
      "reliability": "VERIFIED RULE",
      "source_tier": "A",
      "source_publisher": "West Virginia Legislature (West Virginia Code)",
      "evidence_quote": "(b) A commercial entity, or third party, that performs the required age verification shall not retain any identifying information of the individual after access has been granted to the material",
      "volatility": "low",
      "from_batch": "388-west-virginia-age-verification-as-it-lands-on-a-creator",
      "subject": "West Virginia",
      "topic": "(e) data retention",
      "applies_to_country": "US",
      "applies_to_scope": "WV",
      "tags": {
        "lane": "any",
        "stage": "any",
        "region": [
          "us-wv"
        ],
        "platform": "any",
        "topic": [
          "unclassified"
        ],
        "explicitness": "any"
      }
    },
    {
      "id": "learn_r388_west_virginia_age_verification_as_it_lands_on_a_creator_west_virginia_388_c8",
      "category": "Safety",
      "title": "West Virginia: (f) private right of action",
      "summary": "§49A-1-104(a) gives a private plaintiff $10,000 per incident plus attorney fees and actual damages; §49A-1-104(c) gives the same for unlawful retention of data.",
      "body": "§49A-1-104(a) gives a private plaintiff $10,000 per incident plus attorney fees and actual damages; §49A-1-104(c) gives the same for unlawful retention of data.\n\nWhat West Virginia Legislature (West Virginia Code) actually says:\n\n“(1) An award of reasonable attorney fees and court costs; (2) $10,000 per each incident of violation; and (3) Actual damages for financial, physical, and emotional harm”\n\nNote: Claude session research 2026-10-23 (web search + fetch of the official page); quote re-checked by the verify gate",
      "source_type": "official",
      "source_link": "https://code.wvlegislature.gov/49A-1-104/",
      "last_verified": "2026-10-23",
      "reliability": "VERIFIED RULE",
      "source_tier": "A",
      "source_publisher": "West Virginia Legislature (West Virginia Code)",
      "evidence_quote": "(1) An award of reasonable attorney fees and court costs; (2) $10,000 per each incident of violation; and (3) Actual damages for financial, physical, and emotional harm",
      "volatility": "low",
      "from_batch": "388-west-virginia-age-verification-as-it-lands-on-a-creator",
      "subject": "West Virginia",
      "topic": "(f) private right of action",
      "applies_to_country": "US",
      "applies_to_scope": "WV",
      "tags": {
        "lane": "any",
        "stage": "any",
        "region": [
          "us-wv"
        ],
        "platform": "any",
        "topic": [
          "unclassified"
        ],
        "explicitness": "any"
      }
    },
    {
      "id": "learn_r388_west_virginia_age_verification_as_it_lands_on_a_creator_west_virginia_388_c9",
      "category": "Safety",
      "title": "West Virginia: (f) Attorney General penalties",
      "summary": "§49A-1-105(a) lets the Attorney General seek civil penalties of $10,000 per day of non-compliant operation, $10,000 per retention violation, and up to $250,000 more if minors access the material, so enforcement is both state and private.",
      "body": "§49A-1-105(a) lets the Attorney General seek civil penalties of $10,000 per day of non-compliant operation, $10,000 per retention violation, and up to $250,000 more if minors access the material, so enforcement is both state and private.\n\nWhat West Virginia Legislature (West Virginia Code) actually says:\n\n“(1) $10,000 per day that the entity operates an Internet website in violation of the age verification requirements of this article; (2) $10,000 per instance when the entity retains identifying information in violation of §49A-1-102(b) of this code”\n\nNote: Claude session research 2026-10-23 (web search + fetch of the official page); quote re-checked by the verify gate",
      "source_type": "official",
      "source_link": "https://code.wvlegislature.gov/49A-1-105/",
      "last_verified": "2026-10-23",
      "reliability": "VERIFIED RULE",
      "source_tier": "A",
      "source_publisher": "West Virginia Legislature (West Virginia Code)",
      "evidence_quote": "(1) $10,000 per day that the entity operates an Internet website in violation of the age verification requirements of this article; (2) $10,000 per instance when the entity retains identifying information in violation of §49A-1-102(b) of this code",
      "volatility": "low",
      "from_batch": "388-west-virginia-age-verification-as-it-lands-on-a-creator",
      "subject": "West Virginia",
      "topic": "(f) Attorney General penalties",
      "applies_to_country": "US",
      "applies_to_scope": "WV",
      "tags": {
        "lane": "any",
        "stage": "any",
        "region": [
          "us-wv"
        ],
        "platform": "any",
        "topic": [
          "unclassified"
        ],
        "explicitness": "any"
      }
    },
    {
      "id": "learn_r388_west_virginia_age_verification_as_it_lands_on_a_creator_west_virginia_388_c10",
      "category": "Safety",
      "title": "West Virginia: carve-out for hosts/platform intermediaries",
      "summary": "§49A-1-103(b) shields ISPs, search engines, app stores, browsers and cloud providers to the extent they did not create the content.",
      "body": "§49A-1-103(b) shields ISPs, search engines, app stores, browsers and cloud providers to the extent they did not create the content.\n\nWhat West Virginia Legislature (West Virginia Code) actually says:\n\n“a search engine, an application distribution provider, web browser provider, or a cloud service provider may not be held to have violated this article for providing access or connection to or from a website”\n\nNote: Claude session research 2026-10-23 (web search + fetch of the official page); quote re-checked by the verify gate",
      "source_type": "official",
      "source_link": "https://code.wvlegislature.gov/49A-1-103/",
      "last_verified": "2026-10-23",
      "reliability": "VERIFIED RULE",
      "source_tier": "A",
      "source_publisher": "West Virginia Legislature (West Virginia Code)",
      "evidence_quote": "a search engine, an application distribution provider, web browser provider, or a cloud service provider may not be held to have violated this article for providing access or connection to or from a website",
      "volatility": "low",
      "from_batch": "388-west-virginia-age-verification-as-it-lands-on-a-creator",
      "subject": "West Virginia",
      "topic": "carve-out for hosts/platform intermediaries",
      "applies_to_country": "US",
      "applies_to_scope": "WV",
      "tags": {
        "lane": "any",
        "stage": "any",
        "region": [
          "us-wv"
        ],
        "platform": "any",
        "topic": [
          "unclassified"
        ],
        "explicitness": "any"
      }
    }
  ]
}