Senate Passes Bipartisan Kids Online Safety Act and COPPA 2.0 with 91-3 Vote

Jul 30, 2024, 01:00 PM

The U.S. Senate has overwhelmingly passed the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) and the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA 2.0) with a vote of 91-3. The bipartisan legislation aims to protect children from harmful online content and hold social media companies accountable for their impact on young users. The bills require social media platforms to prioritize the well-being of children over profits and implement measures to safeguard their privacy and safety, including restrictions on features such as autoplay. Key advocates of the legislation include Senators Richard Blumenthal, Marsha Blackburn, and Ed Markey. Senator Rand Paul was one of the three votes against the bills. The passage marks the most significant congressional action in decades to regulate social media's impact on children. The bills now move to the House of Representatives for consideration.