The Senate has passed two significant bills aimed at enhancing online safety for children and teens. The Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) and the Children’s and Teens Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA 2.0) were approved in a 91-3 vote, marking a rare instance of bipartisan cooperation. However, the legislation will not reach President Joe Biden's desk immediately as the House is currently on a six-week summer recess.
KOSA, co-authored by Senators Richard Blumenthal and Marsha Blackburn, mandates social media companies to provide better protections for users under 17. This includes giving parents more control over their children's use of a platform and preventing certain features, such as autoplay. The bill also requires companies to provide a dedicated page for users to report harmful content.
COPPA 2.0, written by Senators Ed Markey and Bill Cassidy, aims to strengthen online privacy protections for anyone under 17. It prohibits targeted advertising to kids and teens and requires companies to allow users to delete information.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer called the passage of the bills a "good first step" and urged the House to quickly take up the online safety package when it returns in September. However, the House, led by Speaker Mike Johnson, is looking to make its own changes to the legislation, which would then need to pass the Senate again before becoming law.
The bills have been met with both support and criticism. Some tech companies, like Microsoft and Snap, have endorsed KOSA, while others, like Meta, have suggested improvements. Critics, including the American Civil Liberties Union, argue that the bill's definition of harm is too broad and could lead to censorship of content.