Indianapolis, Indiana – Indiana is moving to tighten protections for children in the digital world, with Gov. Mike Braun formally backing two new laws aimed at giving parents more control and increasing penalties for those who prey on minors online.
At a ceremonial bill signing, Braun said the state is taking a firmer stance against online exploitation, framing the new measures as part of a broader effort to shield Hoosier children from harm on social media and punish those involved in child sex abuse material cases more severely. He was joined by the parents of Fishers teenager Hailey Buzbee, who have pushed for stronger online safety protections for young people.
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Braun said the laws are designed to strengthen safeguards around children’s online activity, expand parental oversight, and improve Indiana’s ability to go after offenders who target minors through digital platforms.
“We are taking decisive action to empower parents and protect Hoosier children from online predators. These laws put stronger protections around children online, give parents more control, and strengthen Indiana’s ability to crack down on predators and child exploitation. We are going to keep using every tool we have to protect kids, support families, and put predators who target children online behind bars,” Governor Mike Braun said.
One of the new laws, HEA 1408, focuses on social media and youth accounts. It requires covered platforms to get verifiable parental consent before allowing Indiana users under 16 to open accounts. The law also places new limits on adolescent accounts by blocking direct messages and removing them from search visibility.
It further restricts algorithm-based recommendations and certain features seen as addictive, while also giving parents stronger options to supervise and manage how their children use these platforms. The Indiana Attorney General will be responsible for enforcing those protections.
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The second measure, HEA 1303, targets child sexual exploitation more directly. It raises penalties for offenders who exploit children using child sex abuse material, establishes a new criminal offense for distributing that material, and tightens registration rules for offenders, including those arriving in Indiana from other states or jurisdictions.
The ceremonial signing also highlighted how the legislation fits into a wider campaign already underway in Indiana. State officials pointed to efforts such as Operation Guardian Angel and the Indiana Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, both of which have been central to investigations involving online child exploitation.
The scale of that work has been significant. According to the state, Indiana State Police arrested 499 people last year for crimes against children and rescued 126 children from ongoing abuse. During the same period, the task force received 29,635 cyber tips, marking a 38% increase from the year before.
That pace has continued into this year. Officials said nearly 7,000 tips have already been logged, while the task force has been expanded by 50 officers, bringing the total to 520 across Indiana. The message from the governor’s office was unmistakable: the state intends to meet the growing threat online with a larger response on the ground.
