House Republicans on Tuesday defended a slate of bills addressing online safety for children as a “durable” strategy that still protects First Amendment speech. Democrats, meanwhile, called the bills “weak, ineffectual” versions of previous legislation and expressed concerns about data privacy, including age verification requirements.
The House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing and Trade held a hearing on a bill to require online platforms to implement “reasonable” policies and procedures to prevent certain harms to minors, another to prohibit targeted online advertising to children and teens, and 17 others focused on online safety for kids.
Prospects for passage of the major bills are unclear, especially as they face opposition from Big Tech as well as many Democrats. However, Speaker Mike Johnson offered a glimmer of hope Tuesday that at least some of the bills would see floor action this Congress.
