WASHINGTON – The House Energy and Commerce subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing and Trade advanced legislation Thursday aimed at improving children’s safety online, forwarding the Kids’ Online Safety Act (KOSA) along with 17 other bills focused on online protections for minors. The bills would require social media platforms and other online services to implement policies to prevent certain harms to children.
This year’s KOSA, sponsored by Rep. Gus Bilirakis, R-Fla., is a revised version of a bill the full committee approved last Congress. It narrows the scope of harms addressed and removes a duty of care mandate for platforms. Bilirakis described the bill as a “foundation and safety net” that works alongside other bills addressing specific risks online. He defended removing the duty of care provision, citing court challenges to similar state laws on free speech grounds. Democrats, including Rep. Frank Pallone Jr., D-N.J., criticized the bill for lowering the knowledge standard for platforms and broadly preempting state laws, and expressed concern that it still needs work to adequately protect children. The bill passed to the full committee on a 13-10 party-line vote.
Other legislation advanced Thursday included bills targeting risks on gaming platforms, ephemeral messaging, and privacy protections under an updated version of the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act, known as COPPA 2.0. Democrats raised objections to the privacy bill, warning that broad state preemption could undermine ongoing lawsuits and weaken consumer protections. Republicans, including Rep. Laurel Lee, R-Fla., argued that preemption would standardize protections across the country and respond to modern internet challenges, including mental health risks for children. The privacy protection bill also passed along party lines, 14-10, while the remaining 16 bills were forwarded with bipartisan support.
The subcommittee also discussed, but did not mark up, a bill requiring phone operating systems to allow third-party app stores. Sponsors said the App Store Freedom Act would give parents more control over available apps for their children, addressing some of the safety concerns targeted by other bills. Another bill, the App Store Accountability Act, would require age verification and link minor accounts to parental accounts. Committee leaders suggested further discussions and potential compromise legislation on app store controls could follow.