Congress Advances Bipartisan Legislation to Bolster Child Online Safety
The U.S. House of Representatives recently passed the Kids Internet and Digital Safety Act, and the Senate Commerce Committee is expected to mark up the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) before the August recess. This bipartisan movement in both chambers…
Minneapolis St. Paul, MN, July 30, 2026 —
A significant bipartisan push is underway in Congress to enhance online safety protections for children, with recent legislative actions in both the House and Senate signaling a renewed focus on digital well-being for minors.
The U.S. House of Representatives has passed the Kids Internet and Digital Safety Act. Concurrently, the Senate Commerce Committee is anticipated to mark up the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) prior to the upcoming August recess.
This coordinated legislative effort across both chambers aims to modernize internet protections for younger users. The current legal framework for online child safety has not kept pace with technological advancements, as the last significant federal legislation was enacted in 1998, predating the ubiquitous presence of smartphones and social media platforms.
Advocates for stronger online child safety measures argue that robust federal legislation is essential to ensure technology platforms are held accountable for the harms children may encounter online. They point to ongoing legal challenges against state-level child safety laws initiated by tech companies, as well as the perceived ineffectiveness of voluntary industry standards in adequately addressing these complex issues.
The movement highlights a growing consensus on Capitol Hill regarding the need for updated regulations to address the evolving landscape of the internet and its impact on children.
Story summarized from the original created by Erich Mische on www.minnpost.com, see more information here.
