Kids Online Safety Act

Congress has not reached consensus on social media safety regulations for children, despite similar bans in countries like Australia and Indonesia. A House-passed online safety bill excludes a 'duty of care' provision opposed by Senate co-authors of the bipartisan Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA), and enforcement challenges like age verification remain unresolved.

Congress has not yet agreed on social media safety regulations for children, despite other countries implementing bans for teenagers under 16. The Senate passed the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) in 2024, but the House version lacks a 'duty of care' provision, leading to uncertainty in final legislation. Legal challenges and enforcement difficulties, such as age verification bypasses, remain significant obstacles.

Congress has not reached consensus on social media safety regulations for children, despite growing international efforts to ban platforms for teenagers under 16. While countries like Australia and Indonesia have implemented such bans, U.S. lawmakers face legal challenges linked to the First Amendment. A House bill addressing online safety excludes a 'duty of care' provision, complicating Senate negotiations.

The House passed a package of kids online safety bills, including the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA), marking its first passage through the lower chamber. The legislation, known as the Kids Internet and Digital Safety (KIDS) Act, passed with a 267-117 vote despite opposition from watchdog groups.

Key Democrats Maria Cantwell and Richard Blumenthal urge the House to reject the House version of the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) due to concerns about tech company lobbying and risks to bipartisan efforts. They warn the Senate version may be compromised if the House bill is passed, which lacks key provisions like the 'duty of care' for children's online safety.

A coalition of children's safety advocates is urging House leaders to reject a bipartisan KIDS Act compromise, arguing it weakens protections for minors and avoids holding tech companies accountable. The groups oppose the omission of a 'duty of care' provision requiring tech companies to mitigate harms to young users, a feature included in the Senate’s version of the Kids Online Safety Act. Tech industry group NetChoice has also criticized the KIDS Act over censorship concerns.

Sen. Ted Cruz, chair of the Senate Commerce Committee, is convening a markup for AI legislation but has provided limited details about his criteria or priorities. While emphasizing bipartisan consensus, Cruz's staff acknowledges uncertainty about which bills will advance, and his past opposition to broad AI regulation contrasts with his current role in shaping federal oversight.

A coalition including Mike Pence’s Advancing American Freedom and groups like R Street Institute and NetChoice is urging Senate Commerce Committee leaders to exclude kids’ online safety measures from a national AI framework. The groups argue the proposed bills, such as the Kids Online Safety Act and App Store Accountability Act, risk violating free speech and privacy, with concerns over age verification requirements and data security.

OpenAI has endorsed the Kids Online Safety Act, a bill that appears to be gaining momentum. The endorsement suggests growing support for the legislation. The bill's progress indicates potential changes in online safety regulations.

Ted Cruz is supporting the Kids Online Safety Act, a social media accountability bill. Cruz pledged to advance the bill out of committee during a kids digital safety rally. The support gives the legislation a key boost in the upper chamber.