STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1697

Honolulu, Hawaii

, 2023

RE: H.R. No. 177

Honorable Scott K. Saiki

Speaker, House of Representatives

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Tourism, to which was referred H.R. No. 177 entitled:

"HOUSE RESOLUTION URGING THE HAWAII TOURISM AUTHORITY, IN CONSULTATION WITH THE OFFICE OF ENTERPRISE TECHNOLOGY SERVICES, TO CONDUCT A STUDY ON THE SOCIAL AND SAFETY IMPACTS OF GEOTAGGING,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose of this measure is to urge the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority, in consultation with the Office of Enterprise Technology Services, to conduct a study on the social and safety impacts of geotagging.

Your Committee did not receive any written testimony on this measure.

Your Committee finds that geotagging allows an individual to share the location where a video or picture was taken or where the user of a device or application is currently located. While geotagging has many consumer and marketing benefits, there are many unintended social and safety impacts of the use of geotagging. Geotagging is one of the many factors contributing to overtourism in the State and to the increase in safety concerns as locations that do not have the infrastructure to support thousands of visitors on a daily basis are beginning to see a significant increase in traffic. Your Committee believes that the social and safety impacts of geotagging must be studied in depth to get a better understanding of any further unintended consequences.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Tourism that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.R. No. 177 and recommends that it be referred to your Committee on Higher Education & Technology.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Tourism,

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SEAN QUINLAN, Chair