The Senate is preparing for a crucial vote on Thursday regarding major legislation to enhance online safety for children. This legislation would mark the most significant regulation of the tech industry in over ten years. The proposed package comprises two bills that have garnered significant bipartisan support. One of the bills already boasts 69 co-sponsors, surpassing the required 60 votes needed to proceed in the Senate.
The first bill, named the Children and Teens’ Online Privacy Protection Act, aims to prohibit targeted ads directed at children and teenagers. This bill would forbid companies from gathering personal information from users under the age of 17 and would enable the deletion of data. Additionally, a new department focusing on youthful marketing and privacy would be established at the FTC. The second bill, known as the Kid’s Online Safety Act, would mandate social media platforms to exercise a “duty of care” to prevent their products from causing harm to children. This includes shielding them from content that endorses drugs and alcohol, as well as exacerbating mental health conditions such as eating disorders, anxiety, depression, and suicide. Social media companies would also be required to automatically activate the strictest privacy settings for children.
Although the second bill has received support from some prominent tech organizations like Snap Inc., X, and Microsoft, it is being contested by NetChoice, a trade association representing members such as Meta, Google, and Yahoo! NetChoice argues that the bill’s restrictions are overly stringent, making them impractical for companies to implement. The organization’s Vice President and General Counsel, Carl Szabo, emphasized that while the bill states websites are not obligated to verify a user’s age, in practice, it would necessitate age verification for all users, resulting in extensive data collection. This could conflict with existing privacy laws at the state level.
While the bills are expected to pass in the Senate, their prospects in the House are less certain due to apprehensions regarding the scope of the legislation. House Speaker Mike Johnson stressed the importance of granting Americans more control over their children’s online exposure. He stated that while the specifics of the legislation would be scrutinized, he anticipates significant support for measures that safeguard children in the digital realm. Protecting children’s online activities is paramount, according to Johnson.
The Senate’s impending vote on these significant tech industry regulations underscores the growing concerns about online safety, particularly for children and teenagers. The proposed bills aim to address the shortcomings of current social media platforms in protecting vulnerable users from harmful content. While the legislation has generated support from various quarters, including tech giants, there are legitimate concerns about the practicality and implementation challenges that accompany such stringent regulations. The debate on online safety is likely to intensify as the bills progress through the legislative process, with the ultimate goal of creating a safer online environment for young users.
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