Kids Online Safety Act

Bill: 117-s-3663
Sponsor: Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT]
Introduced: 2022-02-16 in the Senate
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications
Subjects: Accounting and auditing
Advisory bodies
Business records
Child safety and welfare
Civil actions and liability
Computer security and identity theft
Computers and information technology
Congressional oversight
Consumer affairs
Federal district courts
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Internet, web applications, social media
Jurisdiction and venue
Marketing and advertising
Product safety and quality
Public-private cooperation
Right of privacy
State and local courts
State and local government operations

Summary:
action_date: 2022-02-16
text: 

Kids Online Safety Act

 
This bill sets out requirements for covered platforms (i.e., applications or services that connect to the internet and are likely to be used by minors) to protect minors from online harms.
 
A covered platform must act in the best interest of a minor using its application or service. This includes a duty to prevent and mitigate heightened risks of harms that may arise from using the platform (e.g., sexual exploitation).
 
Covered platforms must provide (1) a minor (or a parent) with certain safeguards, such as settings that restrict access to a minor's personal data; and (2) parents with tools to supervise the minor's use of a platform, such as control of privacy and account settings.
 
A covered platform must also disclose specified information, including how, with respect to minors, the platform uses algorithms or targeted advertising. 
 
Further, a covered platform must (1) allow minors and parents to report certain harms, (2) refrain from facilitating advertising of products or services that are illegal to sell to minors, and (3) annually report on foreseeable risks of harm to minors posed by use of the platform.
 
The bill provides for enforcement through the Federal Trade Commission and states.
 
In addition, the bill establishes a program to facilitate relevant public interest research and a council to advise on the bill's implementation. It also requires guidelines for market and product research focused on minors and an evaluation of options for age verification at the device or operating system level.

action_date: 2022-12-15
text: 

Kids Online Safety Act

 
This bill sets out requirements for covered platforms (i.e., social networks, video streaming services, or other applications that connect to the internet and are likely to be used by minors) to protect minors from online harm, including requirements relating to (1) safeguards to restrict access to the personal data of minors, (2) tools to help parents supervise a minor's use of a platform, and (3) reporting of harm to minors from using the platform.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2022-12-15
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 660.
action_date: 2022-12-15
text: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Cantwell with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
action_date: 2022-12-15
text: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Cantwell with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
action_date: 2022-07-27
text: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
action_date: 2022-02-16
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2022-02-16
text: Introduced in Senate