The Senate overwhelmingly passed legislation on Tuesday aimed at protecting children from harmful online content. The bill, which was pushed by parents of children who have been harmed by online bullying or other harmful content, would require tech companies to take reasonable steps to prevent harm on platforms frequently used by minors. The House has not yet acted on the bill, but President Joe Biden has encouraged them to do so without delay.
The legislation, written by Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal and Republican Sen. Marsha Blackburn, is seen as a step toward allowing children, teens, and parents to take back control of their online lives. If the bill becomes law, companies would be required to mitigate harm to children, including bullying, violence, suicide promotion, eating disorders, substance abuse, sexual exploitation, and advertisements for illegal products. Social media platforms would have to provide minors with options to protect their information and limit features that could increase their use of the platform.
The bill is the first major tech regulation package to move in years and could potentially open the door for other bills that strengthen online privacy laws or address the use of artificial intelligence. Supporters are hopeful that the solid Senate vote will push the House to act before the end of the congressional session in January. However, critics have raised concerns about potential privacy threats and censorship issues, leading to debates about finding a balance between protecting children online and respecting freedom of expression.
While some tech companies, such as Microsoft, X, and Snap, have supported the legislation, there has been criticism from industry groups like NetChoice. These groups have raised concerns about cybersecurity risks and potential censorship issues. Blumenthal and Blackburn have emphasized that the goal is for tech platforms to be safe by design and to put the burden of responsibility on companies rather than parents. They have also worked to avoid overly regulating what individuals can post online while still holding companies accountable for the content that children see.
Some advocacy groups and lawmakers, such as Sen. Ron Wyden, have expressed concerns about the bill going too far in terms of censorship and privacy threats. The American Civil Liberties Union has warned that the bill could lead to restrictions on information access and comparisons to book bans. However, the bill has been revised to address some of these criticisms, and major LGBTQ+ groups are not opposing the legislation. Overall, supporters of the bill believe that it is a critical step in protecting children’s well-being and safety online and hope that it will eventually become law.
