House committee advances Kids Online Safety Act

WASHINGTON (NEXSTAR) — A House committee advanced sweeping online protections for kids Wednesday, but many lawmakers did so begrudgingly.

The legislation aims to hold tech companies more accountable for dangerous content on their platforms. However, Democrats and Republicans said last-minute changes water it down too much.

“I don’t know that I could support the House version if it comes to the floor in this manner,” said U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor, (D-Fla.).

Castor voted yes with the hopes of changing the legislation back to the Senate-passed version.

U.S. Rep. Raul Ruiz, (D-Calif.), voted against the measure’s advancement, worried the House version no longer blocks social media companies from promoting dangerous content that contributes to depression, eating disorders and substance use disorders.

“This is the very content that has already devastated so many families and claimed the lives of so many kids,” Ruiz said.

But U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis, (R-Fla.), defended the changes he made, arguing the legislation still addresses content related to physical violence.

“My goal is for this bill to become law,” Bilirakis said.

Bilirakis said the updates ultimately better guard the measure against future legal challenges.

“Sadly, we know Big Tech will pour millions into their lawsuits to tear the law down in the courts,” he said.

Some fellow Republicans remain concerned the overall legislation would give the Federal Trade Commission too much power and censor conservative views.

“If the FTC decides that a design feature causes ‘serious emotional distress,’ which is by the way a subjective definition that’s subject to change, how does that not end up implicating content moderation? It will,” said U.S. Rep. Dan Crenshaw, (R-Texas.).

However, Crenshaw ultimately supported its advancement.

It’s unclear when the full House could consider the measure since changes are likely and House leaders have resisted it. The Senate passed its version 91-3.

The Federal Trade Commission released a new staff report Thursday on major social media and video streaming services. It found the companies engaged in vast surveillance of their users and failed to adequately protect them online, especially children and teens.

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