Senate Set to Pass Bill Designed to Protect Kids from Dangerous Online Content
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate is poised to pass groundbreaking legislation aimed at safeguarding children from harmful online content, marking a significant step in Congress's efforts to hold technology companies accountable for the dangers they pose. This bill, which has garnered substantial bipartisan support, is a response to the tragic stories of parents who have lost children to suicide linked to online bullying.
The proposed legislation mandates that tech companies take reasonable measures to prevent harm on platforms frequented by minors. It introduces a "duty of care" requirement, compelling these companies to default to the safest settings possible for young users. Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, who co-authored the bill with Republican Senator Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee, emphasized that the legislation aims to empower children, teens, and parents to reclaim control over their online experiences. "We no longer trust you to make decisions for us," Blumenthal stated, addressing the tech giants.
While the House has yet to take action on the bill, Speaker Mike Johnson has expressed a willingness to explore it and seek consensus. Advocates are optimistic that a strong Senate vote—following a test vote that passed 86-1—will encourage the House to act swiftly.
If enacted, the bill would require companies to address various forms of online harm, including bullying, violence, suicide promotion, eating disorders, substance abuse, sexual exploitation, and advertisements for illegal products. Social media platforms would need to provide minors with options to protect their personal information, disable addictive features, and allow users to opt out of personalized algorithmic recommendations. Additionally, the legislation would limit communication between users and minors and restrict features that encourage prolonged platform use, such as autoplay videos.
Blumenthal and Blackburn aim to create a framework where platforms are "safe by design." They have worked diligently to strike a balance between holding companies accountable for children's online experiences and avoiding excessive regulation that could infringe on free speech. This careful approach addresses concerns from lawmakers across the political spectrum about potential legal challenges to the legislation.
Critics have raised alarms about the bill's implications for vulnerable youth, particularly regarding access to information on LGBTQ+ issues and reproductive rights. However, revisions to the bill have alleviated many of these concerns, leading to support from major LGBTQ+ organizations.
This legislation represents the first significant tech regulation initiative in years. Although there has been longstanding bipartisan agreement on the need for increased scrutiny of major technology firms, consensus on implementation has been elusive. Earlier this year, Congress passed a law targeting TikTok, but that measure focused solely on one company.
Support for the bill has emerged from various tech companies, including Microsoft, X, and Snap, while Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, has yet to take a definitive stance. Snap has publicly endorsed the bill, reiterating its commitment to the safety and well-being of young users on its platform.
The legislation also proposes updates to child privacy laws, raising the age limit for prohibiting the collection of personal information from users under 13 to 17. It would ban targeted advertising aimed at teenagers and grant minors or their guardians the ability to delete personal information.
As the bill has faced delays in recent months, Blumenthal and Blackburn have collaborated closely with parents who have experienced the devastating effects of cyberbullying and social media-related harm. At a poignant news conference last week, these parents expressed their relief that the Senate is finally advancing this critical legislation. Maurine Molak, whose 16-year-old daughter took her own life after enduring relentless cyberbullying, passionately urged senators to support the bill, stating, "Anyone who believes that children's well-being and safety should come before big tech’s greed ought to put their mark on this historic legislation."