US Senate committee advances Kids Online Safety Act

The US Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation has unanimously advanced the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA), moving the proposed online child safety legislation closer to consideration by the full Senate.

The bill would require online platforms covered by the legislation to take reasonable measures to prevent and reduce certain harms affecting minors. It would also require platforms to provide additional protections and controls for children and parents, including options related to recommendation systems, features that encourage excessive use and unwanted interactions.

Supporters of the bill argue that it would create stronger responsibilities for online platforms and address concerns about how digital services are designed for younger users. During the committee discussion, lawmakers from both parties said the legislation would establish a duty of care for platforms to consider potential harms to children.

The committee reviewed KOSA as part of a broader session focused on children’s online safety and AI-related issues. Separate proposals discussed during the session addressed the use of children’s data by AI services and risks associated with AI-enabled toys, but these are separate from KOSA.

The bill’s future remains uncertain because the Senate and House of Representatives have advanced different approaches to online child protection. While the Senate is considering KOSA, the House has moved forward with the KIDS Act, a separate legislative package that includes different requirements related to online services, including web browsing and private messaging.

Civil liberties groups have raised concerns that broad safety requirements could lead platforms to restrict lawful content or introduce more intrusive age verification systems. Supporters of KOSA argue that the legislation is needed to increase accountability for online platforms and strengthen protections for young users.