Kids Online Safety Act
The source supplies the latest action, but no lifecycle stage.
Latest action (13 Dec 2023): Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 287.
What this bill does
This bill, the Kids Online Safety Act (S. 1409), would impose new legal obligations on online platforms likely to be used by minors. It would establish a "duty of care" requiring covered platforms to take reasonable steps to prevent and mitigate certain harms to minors, including mental health disorders such as anxiety, depression, and suicidal behaviors, addictive usage patterns, bullying, sexual exploitation, and exposure to marketing of drugs, tobacco, gambling, or alcohol. Platforms would also be required to provide minors with privacy and safety safeguards, default protective settings for children, parental tools to monitor and control account settings, and mechanisms for reporting harms. Additional provisions cover disclosure requirements, transparency reporting for larger platforms, and creation of an independent research effort and a Kids Online Safety Council.
The bill would primarily affect operators of social media services, online games, messaging apps, video streaming services, and similar online platforms used by minors, as well as parents and minors themselves, who would gain new tools and protections. Certain services—such as common carriers, broadband providers, email, schools, and business-to-business software—are excluded. The Federal Trade Commission would have rulemaking and enforcement roles.
Introduced in May 2023 by Senator Blumenthal with bipartisan cosponsors, the bill was referred to the Senate Commerce Committee, which reported it favorably with an amendment in July 2023. It did not receive a full Senate vote before the end of that session of Congress.
Plain-English summary generated by Bill100 AI from the official record. Always verify against the source below.
Official summary
Kids Online Safety Act
This bill sets out requirements to protect minors from online harms.
The requirements apply to covered platforms, which are applications or services (e.g., social networks) that connect to the internet and are likely to be used by minors. However, the bill exempts internet service providers, email services, educational institutions, and other specified entities from the requirements.
Covered platforms must take reasonable measures in the design and operation of products or services used by minors to prevent and mitigate certain harms that may arise from that use (e.g., sexual exploitation and online bullying).
Additionally, covered platforms must provide (1) minors with certain safeguards, such as settings that restrict access to minors' personal data; and (2) parents or guardians with tools to supervise minors' use of a platform, such as control of privacy and account settings.
Covered platforms must also
• disclose specified information, including details regarding the use of personalized recommendation systems and individual-specific advertising to minors;
• allow parents, guardians, minors, and schools to report certain harms;
Timeline
13 Dec 2023
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 287.
Common questions
- What does S. 1409 do?
- This bill, the Kids Online Safety Act (S. 1409), would impose new legal obligations on online platforms likely to be used by minors. It would establish a "duty of care" requiring covered platforms to take reasonable steps to prevent and mitigate certain harms to minors, including mental health disorders such as anxiety, depression, and suicidal behaviors, addictive usage patterns, bullying, sexual exploitation, and exposure to marketing of drugs, tobacco, gambling, or alcohol. Platforms would also be required to provide minors with privacy and safety safeguards, default protective settings for children, parental tools to monitor and control account settings, and mechanisms for reporting harms. Additional provisions cover disclosure requirements, transparency reporting for larger platforms, and creation of an independent research effort and a Kids Online Safety Council. The bill would primarily affect operators of social media services, online games, messaging apps, video streaming services, and similar online platforms used by minors, as well as parents and minors themselves, who would gain new tools and protections. Certain services—such as common carriers, broadband providers, email, schools, and business-to-business software—are excluded. The Federal Trade Commission would have rulemaking and enforcement roles. Introduced in May 2023 by Senator Blumenthal with bipartisan cosponsors, the bill was referred to the Senate Commerce Committee, which reported it favorably with an amendment in July 2023. It did not receive a full Senate vote before the end of that session of Congress.
- Has S. 1409 become law?
- The source does not supply a confirmed lifecycle stage for S. 1409. Check the latest action and official source below.
- Who sponsored S. 1409?
- S. 1409 was sponsored by Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT] (D-CT), with 72 cosponsors.
- What's the latest action on S. 1409?
- Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 287. (13 Dec 2023).
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