Washington, D.C. – Today, by a vote of 91-3, the United States Senate passed the Kids Online Safety and Privacy Act, a legislative package that included both the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) and the Children’s and Teens Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA 2.0), two bills that will help protect children online. This is the most significant step Congress has taken to keep children safe on the internet in decades. Senator Fetterman released the following statement in response:
“We all know the positive side of the internet, but social media can take a serious toll on mental health. I’ve experienced this firsthand and I’ve spoken openly about it. We must do more to protect our children’s privacy online and safeguard their mental health – these bills are critical steps to do just that.
“I’m especially proud to have worked to improve this legislation so that far-right attorneys general or federal appointees will not be able to weaponize it to censor both content that supports LGBTQ+ youth and content that provides information on reproductive health care.
“It’s good to see that we’re stepping up to protect our children. I’m proud of the work I’ve done on this legislation and wish I could have been in DC to vote for it, instead of home in Braddock with COVID. I hope the House takes it up and passes it as soon as possible.”
The Kids Online Safety and Privacy Act will create regulations that govern what content tech and social media companies are able to offer to minors online through algorithm recommendations. The bills will require companies to take steps to mitigate harm to children, including bullying, violence, the promotion of suicide, eating disorder content, and more. The legislation will also change how these companies can use young people’s data.
After hearing concerns with the legislation from LGBTQ+ organizations, Senator Fetterman worked with his colleagues to address concerns that KOSA could violate First Amendment rights if weaponized by rightwing state attorneys general. Senator Fetterman cosponsored the revised version of the bill, which ensures that LGBTQ+ social media content cannot be interpreted as harmful by right wing state attorneys general and federal appointees.
