Bipartisan embrace of protect-the-kids measures means bad news for the internet. A "digital regulatory commission" that could shut down social media companies for failing to enact "best business practices" for protecting children. Requiring social media companies to monitor and limit how much time minors spend on them. Banning people under age 16 from social media entirely. Increased civil liability for tech companies. These are a few of the bad ideas proposed yesterday at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on "Protecting Our Kids Online," where proposals included some legislation that has been introduced before (such as the EARN IT Act and the Kids Online Safety Act) as well as some yet-to-be-seen measures.
In Congress and in the states, lawmakers recently have coalesced on kids' protection—from "grooming," to social media addiction, mental health issues, and more—as the reason to give the government more control over online speech and business practices.
