House committee advances Kids Online Safety Act

Two proposed child safety bills, KOSA and COPPA 2.0, have advanced in the House Energy and Commerce Committee. KOSA imposes a "duty of care" on social media companies for harm to underage users, while COPPA 2.0 updates the age and privacy protections for children online. Despite last-minute changes to KOSA aimed at addressing concerns, some lawmakers still expressed dissatisfaction. The amendment removed a duty of care for mitigating mental health issues but added one for preventing dangerous acts. Critics argue that KOSA could lead to censorship of controversial content, while others fear it may not adequately address the mental health impacts of social media on children. COPPA 2.0 faced less contention but raised concerns about a provision allowing parents to access their teen's social media data against their child's wishes. The bills have already passed the Senate and now move to the House floor for a vote. If passed, they may need to be reconciled with the Senate versions before being sent to President Biden for signing. KOSA and COPPA 2.0 would significantly expand government oversight of tech companies with young users, potentially shaping the landscape of the internet for minors.