Senate to Vote on Online Safety Bills

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer announced that the Senate will vote on two key bipartisan bills aimed at enhancing online safety and privacy for children and teens: the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) and the Children’s and Teens’ Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA 2.0). KOSA mandates social media platforms protect minors from harmful content and allows them to opt out of algorithmic feeds, while COPPA 2.0 updates protections to prevent data collection from users under 17. The bills enjoy broad bipartisan support in the Senate but face uncertain prospects in the Republican-controlled House. Critics, including the ACLU and some LGBTQ+ groups, express concerns that the legislation could lead to overreach in content regulation. The White House’s Kids Online Health and Safety Taskforce supports these measures, emphasizing the need for tailored safety features across diverse online platforms.