The Senate is set to vote on a significant piece of legislation aimed at safeguarding children online, marking the most extensive regulation of the tech industry in over ten years. This legislation consists of two bills that have garnered bipartisan support and are on the verge of being passed in the Senate.
Senator Edward Markey has expressed deep concerns about the current measures put in place by social media companies, stating that they are inadequate. Shocking statistics from the Centers for Disease Control reveal that one in ten teenage girls and one in five LGBTQ youth have attempted suicide. Senator Markey emphasizes that the existing safeguards are failing to protect vulnerable youth from harm.
The package of bills includes the Children and Teens’ Online Privacy Protection Act, which aims to prohibit targeted ads directed at kids and teens. Additionally, companies would be forbidden from collecting personal information from users under the age of 17, and a new division focused on youth marketing and privacy would be established at the FTC. The Kid’s Online Safety Act, another component of the package, would require social media platforms to uphold a “duty of care” to prevent children from being exposed to harmful content related to drugs and alcohol, as well as mental health issues such as eating disorders, anxiety, depression, and suicide. It would mandate that social media companies automatically enable the strongest privacy settings for children.
Industry Response
While some major tech companies like Snap Inc., X, and Microsoft have endorsed the Kid’s Online Safety Act, others such as NetChoice have voiced strong opposition. NetChoice, which represents companies like Meta, Google, and Yahoo!, argues that the bill’s restrictions are too far-reaching and impractical for companies to implement. There are concerns that the legislation would require extensive age verification of all users, leading to significant data collection which may conflict with existing privacy laws at the state level.
Although the bills are likely to pass in the Senate, their future in the House is uncertain due to concerns regarding the broad scope of the legislation. House Speaker Mike Johnson expressed his support for the overall goal of protecting children online but acknowledged the need for a closer examination of the details within the bills. The level of support in the House remains a factor that could impact the ultimate fate of this legislation.
The battle to enhance the safety of children online is a complex and contentious issue that continues to unfold in Congress. While there is a consensus on the necessity of protecting vulnerable youth from harmful online content, the specifics of how to achieve this goal remain a source of debate. The outcome of this legislative process will shape the future of online safety for children and teenagers in the United States.