Legis Daily

Kids Online Safety Act

USA118th CongressS-1409| Senate 
| Updated: 12/13/2023
Richard Blumenthal

Richard Blumenthal

Democratic Senator

Connecticut

Cosponsors (72)
Joni Ernst (Republican)Jeanne Shaheen (Democratic)Tommy Tuberville (Republican)Rick Scott (Republican)Bill Cassidy (Republican)Mazie K. Hirono (Democratic)Tammy Duckworth (Democratic)Roger Marshall (Republican)Markwayne Mullin (Republican)Margaret Wood Hassan (Democratic)Dan Sullivan (Republican)Katie Boyd Britt (Republican)Jon Ossoff (Democratic)Catherine Cortez Masto (Democratic)Thomas Tillis (Republican)Cindy Hyde-Smith (Republican)Richard J. Durbin (Democratic)Charles E. Schumer (Democratic)Jack Reed (Democratic)Elizabeth Warren (Democratic)Ben Ray Luján (Democratic)James E. Risch (Republican)Cynthia M. Lummis (Republican)Christopher A. Coons (Democratic)J. D. Vance (Republican)Marsha Blackburn (Republican)Todd Young (Republican)Thomas R. Carper (Democratic)Mark R. Warner (Democratic)Angus S. King (Independent)Amy Klobuchar (Democratic)Laphonza R. Butler (Democratic)Lindsey Graham (Republican)Roger F. Wicker (Republican)Mitt Romney (Republican)John W. Hickenlooper (Democratic)Robert P. Casey (Democratic)Tim Kaine (Democratic)Sheldon Whitehouse (Democratic)Joe Manchin (Independent)John Thune (Republican)Ted Cruz (Republican)Chris Van Hollen (Democratic)Kevin Cramer (Republican)James Lankford (Republican)Christopher Murphy (Democratic)John Kennedy (Republican)Deb Fischer (Republican)Bill Hagerty (Republican)Martin Heinrich (Democratic)Michael F. Bennet (Democratic)John Fetterman (Democratic)Sherrod Brown (Democratic)Brian Schatz (Democratic)Josh Hawley (Republican)Tammy Baldwin (Democratic)John Cornyn (Republican)Peter Welch (Democratic)Benjamin L. Cardin (Democratic)Robert Menendez (Democratic)Jeff Merkley (Democratic)Susan M. Collins (Republican)Chuck Grassley (Republican)Marco Rubio (Republican)Gary C. Peters (Democratic)Pete Ricketts (Republican)Steve Daines (Republican)John Hoeven (Republican)Mark Kelly (Democratic)Mike Crapo (Republican)Lisa Murkowski (Republican)Shelley Moore Capito (Republican)

Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
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.

Bill Text Versions

View Text
2 versions available

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

S 117-3663
Kids Online Safety Act
May 2, 2023
Introduced in Senate
May 2, 2023
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
Jul 27, 2023
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
Dec 13, 2023
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Cantwell with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
Dec 13, 2023
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 287.
Sep 18, 2024

Latest Companion Bill Action

HR 118-7891
Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 117-3663
    Kids Online Safety Act


  • May 2, 2023
    Introduced in Senate


  • May 2, 2023
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.


  • July 27, 2023
    Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.


  • December 13, 2023
    Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Cantwell with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.


  • December 13, 2023
    Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 287.


  • September 18, 2024

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HR 118-7891
    Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.

Science, Technology, Communications

Related Bills

  • HR 118-7891: Kids Online Safety Act
Accounting and auditingAdvisory bodiesBusiness recordsChild safety and welfareCivil actions and liabilityComputers and information technologyComputer security and identity theftCongressional oversightConsumer affairsFederal district courtsGovernment information and archivesGovernment studies and investigationsInternet, web applications, social mediaJurisdiction and venueMarketing and advertisingProduct safety and qualityPublic-private cooperationRight of privacyState and local courtsState and local government operations

Kids Online Safety Act

USA118th CongressS-1409| Senate 
| Updated: 12/13/2023
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.

Bill Text Versions

View Text
2 versions available

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline

Bill from Previous Congress

S 117-3663
Kids Online Safety Act
May 2, 2023
Introduced in Senate
May 2, 2023
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
Jul 27, 2023
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
Dec 13, 2023
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Cantwell with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.
Dec 13, 2023
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 287.
Sep 18, 2024

Latest Companion Bill Action

HR 118-7891
Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.
  • Bill from Previous Congress

    S 117-3663
    Kids Online Safety Act


  • May 2, 2023
    Introduced in Senate


  • May 2, 2023
    Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.


  • July 27, 2023
    Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.


  • December 13, 2023
    Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Reported by Senator Cantwell with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.


  • December 13, 2023
    Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 287.


  • September 18, 2024

    Latest Companion Bill Action

    HR 118-7891
    Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.
Richard Blumenthal

Richard Blumenthal

Democratic Senator

Connecticut

Cosponsors (72)
Joni Ernst (Republican)Jeanne Shaheen (Democratic)Tommy Tuberville (Republican)Rick Scott (Republican)Bill Cassidy (Republican)Mazie K. Hirono (Democratic)Tammy Duckworth (Democratic)Roger Marshall (Republican)Markwayne Mullin (Republican)Margaret Wood Hassan (Democratic)Dan Sullivan (Republican)Katie Boyd Britt (Republican)Jon Ossoff (Democratic)Catherine Cortez Masto (Democratic)Thomas Tillis (Republican)Cindy Hyde-Smith (Republican)Richard J. Durbin (Democratic)Charles E. Schumer (Democratic)Jack Reed (Democratic)Elizabeth Warren (Democratic)Ben Ray Luján (Democratic)James E. Risch (Republican)Cynthia M. Lummis (Republican)Christopher A. Coons (Democratic)J. D. Vance (Republican)Marsha Blackburn (Republican)Todd Young (Republican)Thomas R. Carper (Democratic)Mark R. Warner (Democratic)Angus S. King (Independent)Amy Klobuchar (Democratic)Laphonza R. Butler (Democratic)Lindsey Graham (Republican)Roger F. Wicker (Republican)Mitt Romney (Republican)John W. Hickenlooper (Democratic)Robert P. Casey (Democratic)Tim Kaine (Democratic)Sheldon Whitehouse (Democratic)Joe Manchin (Independent)John Thune (Republican)Ted Cruz (Republican)Chris Van Hollen (Democratic)Kevin Cramer (Republican)James Lankford (Republican)Christopher Murphy (Democratic)John Kennedy (Republican)Deb Fischer (Republican)Bill Hagerty (Republican)Martin Heinrich (Democratic)Michael F. Bennet (Democratic)John Fetterman (Democratic)Sherrod Brown (Democratic)Brian Schatz (Democratic)Josh Hawley (Republican)Tammy Baldwin (Democratic)John Cornyn (Republican)Peter Welch (Democratic)Benjamin L. Cardin (Democratic)Robert Menendez (Democratic)Jeff Merkley (Democratic)Susan M. Collins (Republican)Chuck Grassley (Republican)Marco Rubio (Republican)Gary C. Peters (Democratic)Pete Ricketts (Republican)Steve Daines (Republican)John Hoeven (Republican)Mark Kelly (Democratic)Mike Crapo (Republican)Lisa Murkowski (Republican)Shelley Moore Capito (Republican)

Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee

Science, Technology, Communications

Related Bills

  • HR 118-7891: Kids Online Safety Act
  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
Accounting and auditingAdvisory bodiesBusiness recordsChild safety and welfareCivil actions and liabilityComputers and information technologyComputer security and identity theftCongressional oversightConsumer affairsFederal district courtsGovernment information and archivesGovernment studies and investigationsInternet, web applications, social mediaJurisdiction and venueMarketing and advertisingProduct safety and qualityPublic-private cooperationRight of privacyState and local courtsState and local government operations