7-30-2024 1:44pm

Senate Passes Kids Online Safety Act and the Children’s and Teens Online Privacy Protection Act

Chris Edwards Editor

The Senate passed the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) and the Children and Teens’ Online Privacy Protection Act (also known as COPPA 2.0), the first major internet bills meant to protect children to reach that milestone in two decades. A legislative vehicle that included both KOSA and COPPA 2.0 passed 91–3.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) called it “a momentous day” in a speech ahead of the vote, saying that “the Senate keeps its promise to every parent who’s lost a child because of the risks of social media.” He called for the House to pass the bills “as soon as they can.”

U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) issued the following statement on the Senate passage of the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) and the Children’s and Teens Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA):

“More Americans are online than ever before – and that poses a real risk for children and teenagers. Big Tech and their algorithms aim to maximize time spent online, and it’s clear that young Americans’ mental health and well-being are not always a priority for these companies. From bullying to promoting dangerous content, report after report shows that online platforms can have a harmful impact on children.

“More must be done to hold companies accountable for online harm and empower parents to protect their children. The bipartisan vote to strengthen children’s online safety sends a clear message that online platforms must be made safer and that the power belongs in the hands of the user. I urge the House to put our children first and pass this bipartisan legislation.”

Background:

The Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) empowers kids and parents to take control over kids’ online experiences to better protect their health and well-being. The Children’s and Teens Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) updates online data privacy rules for the 21st century and ensures both children and teenagers are protected online.

Senator Luján has pushed social media companies to address the disparities between English speakers and Spanish speakers on their platforms. In the 117thCongress, Senator Luján introduced legislation to hold large social media companies accountable for using computer algorithms that promote harmful and dangerous content that leads to offline violence.

The bills now move to the House, which had about a week left to take them up before the August recess — except that the chamber recently decided to adjourn a week early. Prior to Thursday’s procedural vote, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) said in a statement to The Verge that he was “looking forward to reviewing the details of the legislation that comes out of the Senate. Parents should have greater control and the necessary tools to protect their kids online. I am committed to working to find consensus in the House.” But it will be harder to pick up momentum after Congress’ break, given the political dynamics of passing substantive policy in the months right before a presidential election.