US Senate approves major online child safety reforms

The US Senate has passed significant online child safety reforms in a near-unanimous vote, but the fate of these bills remains uncertain in the House of Representatives. The two pieces of legislation, known as the Children and Teens’ Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA 2.0) and the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA), aim to protect minors from targeted advertising and unauthorised data collectiochiln while also enabling parents and children to delete their information from social media platforms. The Senate’s bipartisan approval, with a vote of 91-3, marks a critical step towards enhancing online safety for minors.

COPPA 2.0 and KOSA have sparked mixed reactions within the tech industry. While platforms like Snap and X have shown support for KOSA, Meta Platforms and TikTok executives have expressed reservations. Critics, including the American Civil Liberties Union and certain tech industry groups, argue that the bills could limit minors’ access to essential information on topics such as vaccines, abortion, and LGBTQ issues. Despite amendments to address these concerns, some, like Senator Ron Wyden, still need to be convinced of the bills’ efficacy and potential impact on vulnerable groups.

The high economic stakes are highlighted by a Harvard study indicating that top US social media platforms generated approximately $11 billion in advertising revenue from users under 18 in 2022. Advocates for the bills, such as Maurine Molak of ParentsSOS, view the Senate vote as a historic milestone in protecting children online. However, the legislation’s future hinges on its passage in the Republican-controlled House, which is currently in recess until September.