{"data":{"id":"us-nc/n.c.-gen.-stat.-143-805","jurisdiction":"us-nc","citation":"N.C. Gen. Stat. § 143-805","heading":"Prohibit viewing of pornography on government networks and devices.","body":"(a)\tNotwithstanding G.S. 14-456 and G.S. 14-456.1, a public agency shall not permit the viewing of pornography by its employees on a network of that public agency. Notwithstanding G.S. 14-456 and G.S. 14-456.1, the judicial branch shall not permit the viewing of pornography by its employees on a network of the judicial branch. Notwithstanding G.S. 14-456 and G.S. 14-456.1, the legislative branch shall not permit the viewing of pornography by its employees on a network of the legislative branch.\n(b)\tNotwithstanding G.S. 14-456 and G.S. 14-456.1, no public agency shall permit an employee, elected official, or appointee of that public agency to view pornography on a device owned, leased, maintained, or otherwise controlled by that public agency. Notwithstanding G.S. 14-456 and G.S. 14-456.1, no public agency shall permit a student of that public agency to view pornography on a device owned, leased, maintained, or otherwise controlled by that public agency. Notwithstanding G.S. 14-456 and G.S. 14-456.1, the judicial branch shall not permit an employee, elected official, or appointee of the judicial branch to view pornography on a device owned, leased, maintained, or otherwise controlled by the judicial branch. Notwithstanding G.S. 14-456 and G.S. 14-456.1, the legislative branch shall not permit an employee, elected official, or appointee of the legislative branch to view pornography on a device owned, leased, maintained, or otherwise controlled by the legislative branch.\n(c)\tEach 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. Each policy required by this subsection shall delineate the disciplinary actions that will be taken in response to a violation of that policy.\nEach policy required by this subsection shall delineate the disciplinary actions that will be taken in response to a violation of that policy.\n(d)\tSubsections (a) and (b) of this section shall not apply to an official or employee that is engaged in any of the following activities in the course of that official's or employee's official duties:\n(1)\tInvestigating or prosecuting crimes, offering or participating in law enforcement training, or performing actions related to other law enforcement purposes.\n(2)\tIdentifying potential security or cybersecurity threats.\n(3)\tProtecting human life.\n(4)\tEstablishing, testing, and maintaining firewalls, protocols, and otherwise implementing this section.\n(5)\tParticipating in judicial or quasi-judicial proceedings.\n(6)\tConducting or participating in an externally funded research project at one of the constituent institutions of The University of North Carolina.\n(7)\tResearching issues related to the drafting or analysis of the laws of this State as necessary to fulfill the requirements of the employee's official duties.\n(8)\tInvestigating matters involving offenders incarcerated with, or otherwise under the supervision of, the Department of Adult Correction or matters related to the misuse of devices owned by the Department of Adult Correction.\n(e)\tThis section shall not apply to the user of an authorized account paying for use of communications services under Article 16A of Chapter 160A of the General Statutes, including those communications services exempted under G.S. 160A-340.2(b) or (c).\n(f)\tAnnually, no later than August 1 and in the format required by the State Chief Information Officer, each public agency shall report information to the State Chief Information Officer on the number of incidences of unauthorized viewing or attempted viewing of pornography on that public agency's network; whether or not the unauthorized viewing was by an employee, elected official, appointee, or student of that public agency; and whether or not any of the unauthorized viewing was on a device owned, leased, maintained, or otherwise controlled by that public agency. Annually, no later than October 1, the State Chief Information Officer shall compile and report to the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Information Technology the information submitted in accordance with this subsection.\n(g)\tThe following definitions apply in this section:\n(1)\tDevice. - Any cellular phone, desktop or laptop computer, or other electronic equipment capable of connecting to a network.\n(2)\tMaterial. - As defined in G.S. 14-190.13.\n(3)\tNetwork. - Any of the following, whether through owning, leasing, maintaining, or otherwise controlling:\na.\tThe interconnection of communication systems with a computer through remote or local terminals, or a complex consisting of two or more interconnected computers or telephone switching equipment.\nb.\tInternet service.\nc.\tInternet access.\n(4)\tPornography. - Any material depicting sexual activity.\n(5)\tPublic agency. - Any of the following:\na.\tAll State agencies and offices of the members of the Council of State, including all boards, departments, divisions, constituent institutions of The University of North Carolina, community colleges, and other units of government in the executive branch.\nb.\tUnits of local government as defined in G.S. 159-7.\nc.\tPublic authorities as defined in G.S. 159-7.\nd.\tPublic school units as defined in G.S. 115C-5.\n(6)\tSexual activity. - As defined in G.S. 14-190.13. (2024-26, s. 7(a); 2026-34, s. 3(a).)","path":["Chapter 143. State Departments, Institutions, and Commissions","Article 84. Various Technology Regulations."],"source_url":"https://www.ncleg.gov/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/HTML/BySection/Chapter_143/GS_143-805.html","current_through":"S.L. 2026-30","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-08-27T18:22:33Z","sha256":"b797be63124bf0630288291fb2c8c39af730d8bf3175a7297a174f5b2935edd6","source_id":"us-nc","stale":false,"prev":"us-nc/n.c.-gen.-stat.-143-800","next":"us-nc/n.c.-gen.-stat.-143a-1"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}