In a decisive turn, the U.S. Senate has passed sweeping reforms aimed at bolstering online safety for children. The legislation, which includes the Children and Teens’ Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA 2.0) and the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA), garnered overwhelming bipartisan support with a 91-3 vote. These bills are designed to limit targeted advertising and data collection for minors, empower parents and children to erase digital footprints, and establish a duty of care for social media companies towards young users.
Despite the Senate’s strong backing, the bills face an uncertain future in the Republican-controlled House of Representatives, currently on recess. Advocates, like Maurine Molak from ParentsSOS, hail the Senate’s decision as a landmark victory for parents advocating for their children’s safety. Meanwhile, the tech industry and civil liberties groups voice concerns over potential censorship and access to critical content, particularly for LGBTQ youth. The debate underscores the complex balance between protecting children and preserving free speech online.
