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politics18h ago
Kids Online Safety Act Advances to House Amid Concerns Over Free Speech and Civil Rights
Cnet.com and 1 more
- A House committee, led by Rep. Guthrie, advanced his Kids Internet and Digital Safety Act in a party-line vote, signaling momentum for online safety measures aimed at minors.
- The Guthrie bill would prohibit platforms from advertising illegal products to children and require easily accessible parental controls and age verification for app store downloads.
- Guthrie's bill reportedly includes annual third-party audits, robust enforcement by the FTC and state AGs, and positions as a strong, comprehensive online safety framework.
- Democrats argued the measure could preempt state law and lacked a required duty of care from tech platforms, leaving children vulnerable to harm.
- The bill comprises a dozen separate measures and was shaped by negotiations with Democrats, according to Guthrie.
- The committee's action places Guthrie's online safety blueprint on a path toward a full House vote, though a date has not been set.
- The Guthrie proposal aligns with broader trends toward safeguarding children online, complementing existing discussions on platform accountability and parental controls.
- The measure would bolster parental controls and age verification for digital storefronts, aiming to restrict access to inappropriate content for minors.
- Guthrie’s bill emphasizes enforcement, auditing, and intergovernmental cooperation to police online content accessible to youth.
- While not identical, Guthrie's approach echoes concerns in the U.S. ongoing dialogue about minors’ online safety and platform responsibility.
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