Senate Commerce Committee Takes Up KOSA, Four Other Tech Bills August 5
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The Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee will mark up five bills on Wednesday that aim to regulate social media platforms, protect children online, and impose safety standards for artificial intelligence. The most prominent, the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) from Sens. Marsha Blackburn and Richard Blumenthal, would require platforms to exercise 'reasonable care' in designing features that could harm minors, and give parents tools to monitor accounts. The markup proceeds despite a recent letter from roughly 100 organizations opposing the bill after the House passed a version that removed stronger 'duty of care' language.
The Kids Online Safety Act
KOSA would apply to social media, video games, messaging apps, and streaming services. It requires 'reasonable care' in features that could lead to addiction or harmful behaviors for users under 17. The legislation also prohibits market research on children under 13 and empowers the Federal Trade Commission to investigate and fine violations. Earlier versions were supported by Apple and OpenAI, but a House amendment that removed the 'duty of care' clause prompted opposition.
Industry and Advocacy Opposition
Nearly 100 parent, youth, and tech-focused groups, including former supporter Issue One, signed a June letter to congressional leaders opposing the current bill. They argue that stripping the duty of care eliminates the core obligation for platforms to design products safely, citing lawsuits linking major platforms to teen addiction, depression, and deepfakes. The groups contend that internal company records show a pattern of prioritizing engagement over wellbeing. Senators Blumenthal and Blackburn called the House version 'dead on arrival' and kept the stronger provisions in the Senate draft.
Other Bills in Markup
The committee will also consider the SCREEN Act, introduced last year by Sen. [Name not provided], which would regulate age verification online, and legislation focused on AI chatbot safety. While proponents say the package enhances privacy and safety, many technology experts express skepticism about the effectiveness and potential unintended consequences of the measures.
What's Next
The committee vote on Wednesday could advance the bills to the full Senate for consideration later this year. However, the deep divide between privacy advocates and tech industry supporters, along with differences between the House and Senate versions, leaves the trajectory of the legislation unclear.
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Senate Commerce Committee Takes Up KOSA, Four Other Tech Bills August 5
