The Senate votes to regulate social media but the fight isn’t over
Jul 31, 2024
auto_awesome
Ruth Reader, a POLITICO reporter specializing in tech and policy, dives into the Senate's recent vote on social media regulations targeting children's online safety. She discusses the bipartisan support for the Kids Online Safety and Privacy Act and the overwhelming backing from lawmakers. However, challenges loom as the legislation faces a lobbying battle from tech industry advocates. Ruth also explores the 'duty of care' principle and the potential ramifications of empowering the FTC to regulate content on social media.
The Senate's overwhelming support for the Kids Online Safety and Privacy Act marks a significant bipartisan effort to enhance protections for children online.
Critics of the legislation express concerns about potential censorship and the risk of vague definitions being misused by tech companies against marginalized groups.
Deep dives
Overview of the Kids Online Safety and Privacy Act
The Senate has recently passed the Kids Online Safety and Privacy Act, a significant piece of legislation aimed at enhancing protections for children using social media. This bill merges elements from two prior proposals and received a resounding vote of 91 to 3, reflecting a strong bipartisan agreement. Critics, including Senators Rand Paul, Mike Lee, and Ron Wyden, raised concerns about potential censorship and insufficient protections for encrypted communications. Their opposition highlights ongoing debates about the balance between safeguarding children online and protecting free speech.
Impact on Social Media Companies
The legislation mandates that social media platforms must ensure safer environments for children, introducing a duty of care requirement that encourages companies to reconsider their design approaches. Under the new rules, companies will be restricted from targeting individuals under 17 with advertisements and will need to limit data collection on minors. This could result in heightened privacy settings automatically applied to user accounts, ultimately providing children with more control over their online experience. Experts argue that this shift signifies a substantial change in how tech companies are required to engage with younger users.
Concerns Among Stakeholders and Next Steps
While many parent and youth advocacy groups support the new legislation, there is apprehension among civil society organizations about its implications. Critics worry that tech companies might exploit the law's vague language to remove content deemed harmful without proper scrutiny, potentially affecting marginalized voices, such as LGBTQ+ youth. Enforcement of the bill falls largely to the FTC, which could lead to inconsistent application based on the current administration's priorities. The legislative process is far from over, as the bill now heads to the House, where its fate will be determined amidst competing legislative priorities.
The Senate has taken its biggest swing yet at regulating social media and how it’s used by children. On Tuesday, lawmakers voted overwhelmingly in favor of the Kids Online Safety and Privacy Act. But the legislation has been the subject of a major lobbying campaign, and those advocates from the tech industry, parents’ groups and civil society will now bear down on the House. POLITICO reporter Ruth Reader joins host Steven Overly to explain the latest.