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Sens. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., and Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., reintroduced the Kids Online Safety Act with greater than half of the Senate’s backing, together with Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, suggesting that the invoice will likely be filibuster-proof when it comes to the ground.
On Thursday, Blackburn and Blumenthal introduced that the revised invoice had 62 senators on board, cut up evenly between each events. If handed, it will be one of many largest Big Tech crackdowns in current years, limiting content material for minors that promotes substance abuse, the promotion of suicide, sexual exploitation and alcohol abuse. It would additionally mandate social media firms to implement sure controls to restrict display screen time, ban restrictive options and restrict entry to probably dangerous consumer profiles.
“This overwhelming bipartisan support for the Kids Online Safety Act—62 total co-sponsors, Democrats and Republicans—reflects the powerful voices of young people and parents who want Congress to act,” lawmakers stated in a joint assertion.
A finger pointing to Messenger cellular app displayed on a smartphone display screen alongside that of X,Whatsapp,Facebook,TikTok,Threads, on August 15, 2023, in Brussels, Belgium. (Jonathan Raa/NurPhoto through Getty Images)
The contemporary laws comes just some weeks after the CEOs of Discord, Snap, TikTok, X and Meta testified earlier than a Senate Judiciary Committee listening to to talk about on-line baby security. It additionally addresses conerns raised by teams who opposed the laws when it was first rolled out final 12 months due to what they believed could be dangerous to LGBTQ+ youngsters.
GLAAD, a nonprofit LGBTQ+ advocacy group, and the Human Rights Campaign each rescinded their earlier opposition to the invoice.
“The recent watershed hearing with Big Tech CEOs showcased the urgent need for reform. With new changes to strengthen the bill and growing support, we should seize this moment to take action. We must listen to the kids, parents, experts, and advocates, and finally hold Big Tech accountable by passing the Kids Online Safety Act into law,” lawmakers stated.
President Joe Biden urged lawmakers final 12 months, when it was first launched, to pass the invoice.
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Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta, apologizes to households who’ve been harmed due to unsafe social media throughout the Senate Judiciary Committee listening to titled “Big Tech and the Online Child Sexual Exploitation Crisis.” (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc through Getty Images)
Schumer, who additionally confronted stress this month from a whole lot of members of the family who blamed social media for the demise of their youngsters, stated in a press release that he appears to be like “forward” to collaborate on a “bipartisan basis” to advance the invoice.
The Kids Online Safety Act would require social media firms to design their merchandise with the security of children and youths in thoughts, present dad and mom instruments to defend their children and provides households extra choices for managing and disconnecting from these platforms.
I look ahead to engaged on a bipartisan foundation with Senators Blumenthal and Blackburn to advance this invoice in the Senate,”
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Earlier this month, the youngest victim whose relatives signed a letter to Schumer urging his support for the bill, was eight-year-old Lalani Erika Walton, of Texas. Her parents are suing TikTok and parent company, ByteDance, alleging the girl died of self-strangulation while participating in the viral “Blackout Challenge,” which encouraged users to choke themselves with belts, purse strings or other similar items until passing out.
Fox News’ Daniel Wallace contributed to this report.
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