Kids Online Safety Act

Bill: 118-s-1409
Sponsor: Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT]
Introduced: 2023-05-02 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: 2023-05-02
text: 

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 act in the best interest of minors using the applications or services, including by mitigating harms that may arise from that use (e.g., sexual exploitation and online bullying).
 
Additionally, covered platforms must provide (1) minors (or their parents or guardians) 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 targeted advertising;
 
allow parents, guardians, minors, and schools to report certain harms;
 
refrain from facilitating advertising of age-restricted products or services (e.g., tobacco and gambling) to minors; and
 
annually report on foreseeable risks of harm to minors from using the platform.
 
 
The bill provides for enforcement through the Federal Trade Commission and states.
 
Further, the bill establishes a program to facilitate relevant independent research for noncommercial purposes and a council to advise on implementing the bill. It also requires guidance for market and product research focused on minors and an evaluation of options to verify a user's age.

action_date: 2023-12-13
text: 

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;
 
refrain from facilitating advertising of age-restricted products or services (e.g., tobacco and gambling) to minors; and
 
annually report on foreseeable risks of harm to minors from using the platform.
 
 
Additionally, the bill requires large (based on specified revenue, employment, or user criteria) websites, internet applications, and search engines (including social network sites) to meet certain requirements before using algorithms that prioritize information furnished to the user based on user-specific data. For example, such platforms must (1) provide users with notice that the website uses such algorithms, and (2) make available a version of the platform that uses algorithms that do not prioritize information based on user data.
 
The bill provides for enforcement through the Federal Trade Commission and states.
 
Further, the bill requires the commission to seek to contract with the National Academy of Sciences to study the risks of harm to minors by the use of social media and other online platforms. 
 
The bill establishes a council to advise on implementing the bill. It also requires guidance for market and product research focused on minors and an evaluation of options to verify a user's age.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2023-12-13
text: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 287.
action_date: 2023-12-13
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: 2023-12-13
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: 2023-07-27
text: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
action_date: 2023-05-02
text: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
action_date: 2023-05-02
text: Introduced in Senate