In a decisive move, the U.S. Senate is set to pass transformative online child safety legislation this Tuesday. However, the proposed reforms, which have sparked a mix of enthusiasm and skepticism within the tech world, face an uphill battle in the House of Representatives.
Two pivotal bills, the Children and Teens’ Online Privacy Protection Act and the Kids Online Safety Act—affectionately known as COPPA 2.0 and KOSA—must clear the Republican-controlled House, which is currently in recess until September, to become law.
The Senate’s recent bipartisan procedural vote saw an overwhelming majority of 86 senators in favor and just one opposed. While the Senate, under Democratic control, appears united on this front, the House remains a battleground where Republicans hold a slim majority.
COPPA 2.0 aims to eliminate targeted advertising to minors and restrict data collection without explicit consent, while also granting parents and children the power to delete their data from social media sites. In 2022 alone, leading social media platforms amassed around $11 billion in ad revenue from users under 18, according to a Harvard study.
Meanwhile, KOSA would enforce a “duty of care” on social media companies regarding their younger users, emphasizing platform design and corporate responsibility. Social media giants like Snap Inc. and X have expressed support for KOSA, though figures such as Meta Platforms’ Mark Zuckerberg and TikTok’s Shou Zi Chew have voiced reservations about certain provisions.
Critics, including tech industry groups and the American Civil Liberties Union, argue that the bill’s broad definitions could inadvertently limit access to crucial content on topics such as vaccines, abortion, or LGBTQ issues. In response, senators have revised the bill’s language to address these concerns, including narrowing the scope of enforcement for state attorneys general.
Josh Golin, executive director at Fairplay for Kids, a proponent of the bills, emphasized that KOSA mandates companies to address specific risks, like content encouraging eating disorders, without granting the government undue censorship power.
