Kids Internet and Digital Safety Act advances to full House vote

A trio of bills designed to strengthen protections for children and teens online moved forward Thursday after the House Energy and Commerce Committee held more than five hours of debate between Republican and Democratic lawmakers.

In a 28–24 roll call vote, the committee advanced one of the central proposals: the Kids Internet and Digital Safety Act, which incorporates elements of the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA). The legislation would require online platforms to introduce safeguards for minors, such as “easy-to-use parental tools” and limits on addictive design features.

Meanwhile, the House version of another closely watched data privacy measure—the Children and Teens’ Online Privacy and Protection Act, commonly known as COPPA 2.0—was not taken up during Thursday’s markup. The delay followed the Senate’s unanimous bipartisan passage of its own version of the bill earlier that day.

Debate over protections and loopholes

During the markup hearing, Rep. Gus Bilirakis (R-Fla.) described the Kids Internet and Digital Safety Act as the “most comprehensive kids online safety package” the committee has ever advanced. Bilirakis led efforts behind the KOSA provision included in the broader bill.

Under the legislation, Bilirakis said, KOSA would require social media platforms to turn off algorithmic recommendations by default for children.

Democrats, however, pushed back, arguing that a preemption provision in the bill would prevent states from enforcing their own stronger online protections for children and teens.

House Energy and Commerce Committee Ranking Member Rep. Frank Pallone (D-N.J.) said the Republican-backed proposals create a “giant loophole” for major technology companies. He criticized the bill’s knowledge standard, saying it allows companies collecting children’s data to claim they lacked actual knowledge that minors were using their platforms.

“Republicans are letting Big Tech off the hook by letting them say they don’t know they have kids on their platforms,” Pallone said. Pallone also argued that the measures could make it harder for lawsuits to move forward against technology companies accused of harming children and teens online.

Both Pallone and Committee Chairman Rep. Brett Guthrie (R-Ky.) said they were disappointed that lawmakers could not reach a bipartisan agreement on the legislation before the markup hearing.

“Algorithms amplify addictive, harmful content, predators exploit anonymity, and parents are left trying to navigate a digital world that evolves faster than the safeguards they have at their disposal,”

Guthrie said. “Every month we delay, more families experience the kind of devastation that no parent should ever endure.”

Concerns from advocates

Ahead of the markup, a coalition of parents, teachers, and technology safety advocates sent a letter to the committee’s leadership urging them to reject the KOSA provision, raising concerns similar to those voiced by Democratic lawmakers. The group also pointed to a bipartisan version of the bill that previously passed the Senate with 91 votes as a better alternative.

AI chatbot safeguards included

The broader KIDS Act package also includes new guidelines governing how artificial intelligence chatbots interact with minors.

Under the proposal, AI chatbots would be required to disclose during their first conversation with a minor that they are “not a natural person.” The systems would also have to provide suicide and crisis prevention hotline resources when a minor asks about suicide or expresses suicidal thoughts.

The bill would further require chatbot providers to encourage minors to take breaks after more than three hours of interaction with a platform. Companies would also need to establish “reasonable” policies and procedures for situations in which minors discuss harmful topics, including access to sexual material or the promotion of gambling, narcotic drugs, tobacco, or alcohol.

Public support for AI oversight

Public opinion appears to favor stronger oversight. A survey released Monday by Common Sense Media found that roughly three in four parents, children, and teens support government regulation of artificial intelligence.

More than 80% of respondents also said they support mandatory safety testing before AI tools are made available to minors and believe AI and social media companies should be held accountable when their products “cause serious harm or death” to children and teens.