Congress fails to include Kids Online Safety Act in end-of-year spending package

In response to reporting that Congress excluded the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) from its end of year spending package, Issue One Vice President of Technology Reform Alix Fraser offered the following statement:

“We are disappointed in Congress’ failure to include the bipartisan Kids Online Safety Act in the draft of their year-end continuing resolution, and we hope that Congress will reconsider before passing the final version. Despite overwhelming public support and pressure to hold social media platforms accountable for the harms they are causing to children and teens, lawmakers are leaving too many families wondering right before the holidays if there will be accountability for the Big Tech companies that have hurt and killed their children and fueled a global youth mental health crisis.

“The meaningful and popular safeguards included in KOSA passed the Senate by an astounding bipartisan margin earlier this year, yet a powerful tech lobby more concerned with profits than the safety and lives of America’s children has so far thwarted final passage in the House. These companies, led by Meta, spent $51 million in the first three quarters of the year alone to stop bills like KOSA, used their proxies to spread lies about the legislation, and leveraged their resources and influence to stymie reform at every step.

“While today is a challenging day for many families and advocates, we must recognize how close this bill is to the finish line — passing in the Senate 91-3 and having a chance to become law until the final days of this Congress. The scrappy coalition of parents, youth advocates, and civil society leaders are so close to defeating the wealthiest industry in human history, despite tech companies spending nearly unlimited resources to kill this bill.

“The American people are ready for change. Nearly 90% of them support passing KOSA into law. The tech titans of Silicon Valley will fight until the end, just like other toxic industries in the past. Ultimately, the American people will prevail, and we will build a new information environment that offers on the original promises of the internet: fostering connections and innovation, while protecting our children and enhancing democracy around the world.

“That future is possible, and it starts with safeguards for kids online. This is why advocates must continue this fight. Our children are our country’s future. We must create a healthier online environment for them, and we won’t rest until federal legislation is passed to protect kids online and the tech sector is held accountable for its actions.”

Background:

An Issue One, ParentsSOS, and Fairplay poll from earlier this year showed that 88% of Americans from across the political spectrum said that Congress should pass kids’ online safety legislation. Also, earlier this year, KOSA passed the Senate with nearly unprecedented bipartisan support, and several conservative-leaning organizations and members of senior conservative leadership, including members of President-elect Donald Trump’s inner orbit who value free speech, advocated for the bill’s passage to be a number one priority in the House.