Senate Committee Advances Kids Online Safety Act

A key Senate committee unanimously advanced a major children's online safety bill on August 5, setting the stage for a potential floor vote and a significant clash with the House of Representatives over its final form. The Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee voted to send the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) forward alongside three other bills aimed at regulating artificial intelligence and protecting minors online.

KOSA, a bipartisan bill sponsored by Senator Marsha Blackburn, a Republican from Tennessee, and Senator Richard Blumenthal, a Democrat from Connecticut, would impose a new "duty of care" on social media platforms. This legal standard would require companies like Meta, Snapchat, and TikTok to take reasonable measures to prevent and mitigate specific harms to users under 17, including risks related to suicide, eating disorders, sexual exploitation, bullying, substance abuse, and addictive design. The legislation also mandates that platforms enable the most protective privacy and safety settings for minors by default and allows users to opt out of customized advertising.

The committee's action marks a critical step but highlights a major legislative...