Luján Statement on Senate Passage of Children’s Online Safety Legislation

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) issued the following statement on the Senate passage of the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) and the Children’s and Teens Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA):

“More Americans are online than ever before – and that poses a real risk for children and teenagers. Big Tech and their algorithms aim to maximize time spent online, and it’s clear that young Americans’ mental health and well-being are not always a priority for these companies. From bullying to promoting dangerous content, report after report shows that online platforms can have a harmful impact on children.

“More must be done to hold companies accountable for online harm and empower parents to protect their children. The bipartisan vote to strengthen children’s online safety sends a clear message that online platforms must be made safer and that the power belongs in the hands of the user. I urge the House to put our children first and pass this bipartisan legislation.”

Background:

The Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) empowers kids and parents to take control over kids’ online experiences to better protect their health and well-being. The Children’s and Teens Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) updates online data privacy rules for the 21st century and ensures both children and teenagers are protected online.

Senator Luján has pushed social media companies to address the disparities between English speakers and Spanish speakers on their platforms. In the 117^th Congress, Senator Luján introduced legislation to hold large social media companies accountable for using computer algorithms that promote harmful and dangerous content that leads to offline violence.

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