US Senate passes legislation to protect children online

The US Senate passed a comprehensive social media safety package on Tuesday, compelling tech companies to enhance their protection of children, US media said, adding that this is the first significant legislation targeting Silicon Valley in decades.

Social media companies like Meta and X have faced significant criticism for not implementing measures to prevent online dangers to children, such as exposure to sexual predators and risks of teen suicide.

In a rare display of cross-party cooperation during a contentious election year, the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) and the Children and Teens’ Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA 2.0) were approved with strong bipartisan support, with only three senators voting against it.

The legislation was developed with input from parents of teens who had experienced bullying or sexual exploitation. However, it has faced opposition from some free speech advocates who are concerned that it could lead to censorship.