U.S. House Passes Weakened Kids Internet Safety Bill Amid Senate Opposition
The U.S. House of Representatives passed the bipartisan Kids Internet and Digital Safety (KIDS) Act on June 29, 2026, aiming to protect children online with parental controls and data privacy measures. However, the bill’s weaker “reasonable policies” standard and federal preemption language have drawn sharp opposition from Senate Democrats, 44 state attorneys general, and digital safety groups, who prefer a stricter “duty of care” approach. Civil liberties groups also criticize both versions for potential free speech harms. The standoff leaves the legislation in limbo.
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House Passes Weaker Kids Online Safety Bill, Sparking Senate and Advocacy Backlash
The U.S. House of Representatives passed the Kids Internet and Digital Safety (KIDS) Act, a weaker version of the Senate's Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA), by a 267-117 vote. The bill aims to regulate tech companies and protect children online but lacks key Senate provisions like a 'duty of care' making tech firms legally responsible for children's well-being. Senate Democrats, led by Senators Cantwell and Blumenthal, oppose the House version, arguing it is too weak and includes federal preemption language that could undermine state tech regulations. Nearly 100 digital safety groups and 44 state attorneys general have also urged rejection, citing the bill's narrow definition of social media and removal of chronological feed requirements. Meanwhile, civil liberties groups like the ACLU and GLAAD warn both bills could harm free speech and access to online resources for vulnerable youth, including LGBTQ+ teens.
The New RepublicHouse Passes Weaker Kids Online Safety Act, Drawing Senate Opposition
The US House of Representatives passed the Kids Internet and Digital Safety (KIDS) Act, a weaker version of the Senate's Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA), by a vote of 267-117. The bill, designed to regulate tech companies and protect children online, has sparked significant controversy. Senate Democrats, including Senators Maria Cantwell and Richard Blumenthal, have vowed to block the House version, arguing it lacks key provisions like a 'duty of care' that would hold tech companies legally accountable for children's well-being. The KIDS Act also includes federal preemption language that critics say would undermine state-level tech regulations, drawing opposition from 44 state attorneys general and nearly 100 digital safety groups. Meanwhile, civil liberties organizations like the ACLU and GLAAD oppose both bills, warning they could restrict free speech and limit access to resources for vulnerable youth. The legislative standoff pits the House against the Senate and Big Tech, with no clear path forward.
The New RepublicHouse Passes Weaker Kids Online Safety Bill, Pitting Congress Against Senate and Big Tech
The U.S. House of Representatives passed the Kids Internet and Digital Safety (KIDS) Act, a weaker version of the Senate’s Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA). The bill, approved 267-117, aims to regulate tech platforms to protect children online. However, Senate Democrats, led by Senator Maria Cantwell and Richard Blumenthal, oppose the House version, arguing it lacks critical provisions like a 'duty of care' requiring tech companies to ensure children's well-being and includes federal preemption language that would limit state-level regulations. Nearly 100 digital safety groups and 44 state attorneys general also oppose the KIDS Act, citing its narrow definition of social media and removal of chronological feed requirements. Meanwhile, civil liberties groups like the ACLU and GLAAD warn both bills could harm free speech and access to resources for vulnerable youth, particularly LGBTQ+ children. The legislative impasse highlights deep divisions between the chambers and potential leverage for Big Tech lobbyists.
The New RepublicKids bill faces uncertainty after House passage
The House passed the bipartisan Kids Internet and Digital Safety (KIDS) Act on June 29, 2026, requiring online platforms to adopt 'reasonable policies' to protect children from harms like violence, exploitation, and drug sales. The bill, a compromise by Energy and Commerce leaders, weakens earlier proposed 'duty of care' standards, drawing criticism from key senators including Marsha Blackburn, Maria Cantwell, and Richard Blumenthal. The Senate version under consideration retains a stricter duty of care. Opponents argue the House bill's reasonableness standard is too weak, while First Amendment advocates raise concerns. The bill allows states to enact stricter laws and includes parental controls for gaming, messaging, and AI chatbots. Content removed from earlier drafts includes technical feasibility requirements and encryption-weakening provisions.
Roll CallBipartisan Changes Expected to Kids' Internet Safety Bill
House Energy and Commerce Committee leaders Chair Brett Guthrie (R-Ky.) and ranking member Frank Pallone Jr. (D-N.J.) announced a bipartisan agreement on the Kids Internet and Digital Safety (KIDS) Act, moving the legislation closer to a floor vote. The bill, which advanced out of committee in March with only Republican support, is set to be amended with new data privacy protections for children and teens, the creation of a data broker registry, and provisions to preempt state laws by establishing a federal floor for safety standards. The revised text addresses Democratic concerns about knocking out state laws without a sufficient federal standard. The bill combines 12 measures and includes requirements for parental controls, safety defaults, and policies targeting harms from direct messaging, online gaming, and AI chatbots. Key differences remain between the House version and the Senate-passed COPPA 2.0 bill, particularly regarding the standard of knowledge required for companies regarding a user's age.
Roll CallBipartisan changes made to kids’ internet safety bill
House Energy and Commerce Committee leaders Chairman Brett Guthrie (R-Ky.) and Ranking Member Frank Pallone Jr. (D-N.J.) announced a bipartisan agreement on the Kids Internet and Digital Safety (KIDS) Act on Monday. The revised bill includes data privacy protections for children and teens, a data broker registry, and a preemption clause that only overrides conflicting state laws, addressing key Democratic concerns. The bill, which previously advanced from committee with only Republican support, now aims for a House floor vote under suspension of the rules, requiring two-thirds approval. It incorporates an updated Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) extending protections to users up to age 17 and establishes a tiered knowledge standard for data collection—actual knowledge for smaller companies and a broader 'should have known' standard for larger platforms. Provisions also address parental controls, direct messaging, online gaming, and AI chatbots.
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