Kids Online Safety Push Faces First Amendment Hurdles
Congress is considering competing House and Senate proposals to protect children online, but faces significant First Amendment challenges similar to those that have blocked state-level laws. The article highlights the difficulty of defining social media platforms for regulation, using Utah's blocked law as an example. State Rep. Jordan Teuscher noted the challenge of distinguishing platforms like Roblox from Facebook. Kate Ruane of the Center for Democracy and Technology warned that age verification requirements create a heavy burden on constitutionally protected speech. The House passed the KIDS Act, requiring 'reasonable policies' against harms, while the Senate's Kids Online Safety Act would impose a stronger 'duty of care.' The Supreme Court recently declined to intervene in a Texas app store age verification law, leaving it in effect. The article underscores the ongoing legal and legislative struggle to balance child safety with free speech protections.
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