Katie Britt votes for Kids Online Safety and Privacy Act

July 30, 2024 - U.S. Senator Katie Britt (R-Alabama) on Tuesday voted for the Kids Online Safety and Privacy Act to better protect kids using social media, empower parents, and hold platforms accountable. This legislation effectively combines major elements of the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) and the Children and Teens' Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA 2.0). Britt was a cosponsor of both of these bills.

"Social media presents a very real danger for all Americans, especially children and teenagers," said Sen. Britt. "It is past time Congress enact legislation to protect our families and equip parents with substantive tools to help their kids. Senators Blackburn, Blumenthal, Cassidy, and Markey should be applauded for their diligent leadership in getting this legislation through the Senate. There is still much to do, but the Senate's passage of the Kids Online Safety and Privacy Act is a significant step in the right direction. Moving forward, Senator Schumer should start prioritizing other commonsense bipartisan legislation like this rather than monopolizing Senate floor time with partisan nominees and electoral show votes."

The Kids Online Safety and Privacy Act would expand protections for kids on social media by: including teenagers under age 17; prohibiting individual-specific ads targeting kids and teens; limiting platforms' online data collection; prohibiting platforms from holding kids and teens' personal data overseas; restricting the time in which teens and kids' records can be stored; and prohibiting ads for illegal products.

The Kids Online Safety and Privacy Act would hold platforms accountable by requiring them to: take reasonable action to prevent harms on their platforms, which includes suicide, eating disorders, substance abuse, and sexual exploitation; create parental control mechanisms in order for parents to limit screen time, geographic tracking, and control personalization; provide info about how a minor's personal data is used and provide options to modify those recommendations if any personalized recommendations system is used; and require covered platforms to annually issue a public report describing harm to minors that must be based on an independent audit.

The Kids Online Safety and Privacy Act would empower parents by requiring covered platforms to: provide parental access to tools to manage a minor's use of the platform; have a reporting mechanism specific to minors; provide clear notice of policies, practices, and safeguards at registration for a platform and require parental consent by a child; require a study to determine best options to verify age, with an emphasis on the privacy of minors.

The Kids Online Safety and Privacy Act now goes to the House of Representatives for their consideration.

Since Senator Britt has taken office, she has been committed to addressing the challenges and dangers posed by social media, working across the aisle with several Senate Republicans and Democrats. Given the variety of challenges social media poses, her many legislative efforts address a wide swath of issues.

Senator Britt with Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), and Chris Murphy (D-Connecticut), as concerned parents, introduced the Kids Off Social Media Act, which would prevent kids under the age of 13 from creating a social media account-something social media companies already say they enforce; prohibit the use of algorithms on all social media users that are under the age of 17; and require schools to block and filter social media on their WIFI networks if they receive federal funding.

Senator Britt and Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-Minnesota) introduced the Youth Mental Health Research Act, which would create a national Youth Mental Health Research Initiative to guide long-term mental health care efforts and better target preventive interventions for those at risk of developing mental health challenges.

Katie Britt was elected to the Senate in 2022.