A growing movement to establish federal safeguards for children on the Internet is encountering fresh challenges in the Senate. There's concern that efforts to combine various social media bills might complicate ongoing negotiations.
(Photo : Kelly Sikkema from Unsplash) Parents in California could soon sue social media platforms that harm their children online.
Retracting Support
Passing the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) has encountered new obstacles, complicating its journey through the legislative process.
Initially, KOSA gained significant momentum and appeared poised for Senate approval. However, the landscape has shifted as other lawmakers and external organizations seize the opportunity to advocate for their own proposed solutions to online child protection.
One example is Senator Brian Schatz's Protecting Kids on Social Media Act proposal. This legislation aims to restrict social media usage for teens under 18 to instances where parental consent is obtained.
Senator Schatz sees the current momentum surrounding tech-related bills as a critical moment to consolidate efforts and merge various proposals.
While potentially beneficial for addressing broader online safety concerns, this strategic approach may introduce complexities that could impede the smooth passage of KOSA through the Senate.
However, the future of that bill seems uncertain compared to KOSA's. Republican leaders who previously supported the Protecting Kids on Social Media Act are now retracting their support, as per two undisclosed sources from The Washington Post.
The bill's latest version eliminates age verification and parental consent requirements for minors using social media but retains restrictions on algorithmic recommendations.
Meanwhile, tech industry associations are urging members of Congress to consider alternative legislative approaches, citing their opposition to KOSA.
These groups recognize lawmakers' dedication to enhancing online safety for children and propose alternative measures to achieve this goal. They emphasize the importance of supporting law enforcement agencies in their efforts to combat online crimes against children.
Adjusting KOSA
Senator Blumenthal, alongside Senator Blackburn, underscored the importance of avoiding complications in advancing the legislation. Blumenthal emphasized the necessity of focusing on proposals with widespread support while remaining receptive to potential enhancements.
Senators Blumenthal and Blackburn reiterated their endorsement for KOSA, underscoring its bipartisan nature and urging prompt action on the bill.
Their remarks reflect the growing urgency among parents and young people for swift legislative action to hold tech giants accountable for online safety.
Both Senators have adjusted KOSA to garner backing from over 60 senators, including Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer.
A significant alteration involved removing state attorneys general's authority to enforce social media platforms' responsibility to protect young users from specific risks.
The Verge reported that this modification was prompted by concerns among LGBTQ+ organizations that Republican state attorneys general might misuse the bill to limit access for LGBTQ+ youth.
These changes convinced several prominent LGBTQ+ organizations to no longer oppose the bill, which cleared a significant hurdle for its approval.
Yet, organizations such as Fight for the Future, the Electronic Frontier Foundation, and the American Civil Liberties Union still harbor worries regarding potential censorship and children's access to vital online resources.
