Senate Passes Two Bills to Enhance Children's Online Privacy and Safety

Washington D.C., District of Columbia United States of America
Bills face uncertain fate in Republican-controlled House
Bills prohibit ads for narcotic drugs, tobacco products, gambling or alcohol from being shown to kids and teens
Coppa 2.0 bans targeted advertising and data collection from minors without consent
Kids Online Safety Act requires companies to provide safeguards for children's privacy and supervision tools for parents
Senate passed two bills to enhance children's online privacy and safety
Tech industry has criticized bills for potential censorship and revenue loss
Senate Passes Two Bills to Enhance Children's Online Privacy and Safety

The US Senate passed two major bills aimed at protecting children online in a rare bipartisan vote on July 30, 2024. The Children and Teens' Online Privacy Protection Act (Coppa 2.0) and the Kids Online Safety Act (Kosa) are designed to enhance online safety for minors by regulating targeted advertising, data collection without consent, and providing parents with tools to supervise their children's use of social media platforms. The bills also require platforms to establish processes for responding to reports of harm caused to minors.

Coppa 2.0 would ban targeted advertising and data collection from minors without their consent, while Kosa requires companies like Meta Platforms (Facebook and Instagram), Snap Inc, X, and TikTok to provide safeguards for children's privacy by restricting access to their personal data and providing parents with tools to supervise their use of the platforms. The bills also prohibit advertisements that include narcotic drugs, tobacco products, gambling or alcohol from being shown to kids and teens.

The Senate approved both bills in a 91-3 vote, but they face an uncertain fate in the Republican-controlled House. The tech industry has criticized the bills for opening the door to censorship and cutting off revenue for services aimed at teens. However, supporters argue that these measures are necessary to protect children from harmful content and online bullying.

The push for further regulation of social media use for minors follows efforts by some state legislatures like Colorado and New York to regulate social media platforms' influence over minors. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has expressed concerns about the potential impact on free speech, particularly regarding topics related to vaccines, abortion, or LGBTQ+ issues.

The bills have been met with mixed reactions from tech companies and industry groups. Meta Platforms CEO Mark Zuckerberg and TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew disagreed with parts of the bills during a congressional hearing in January. Tech industry groups like NetChoice, which receives funding from Meta, Google, and other major technology companies, have criticized the bills as flawed.

The Children and Teens' Online Privacy Protection Act amends the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act of 1998 to strengthen protections relating to online collection, use, and disclosure of personal information for children and teens. The Kids Online Safety Act would be enforced by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), with state attorneys general also able to bring civil actions if there are violations in their states.

The debate over child online safety is ongoing as lawmakers, parents, and tech companies grapple with the potential risks and benefits of social media use for minors.


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Confidence

91%

Doubts
  • It is unclear if the bills will pass in the Republican-controlled House
  • The potential impact on free speech and censorship has not been fully addressed

Sources

97%

The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
(Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

Senate passes bill to protect kids online and make tech companies accountable for harmful content

The Associated Press News Tuesday, 30 July 2024 04:12
  • Unique Points
    • The Senate has passed legislation designed to protect children from dangerous online content and hold tech companies more accountable for the harm they cause.
  • Accuracy
    No Contradictions at Time Of Publication
  • Deception (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Fallacies (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (0%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication

99%

The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
(Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

Senate passes legislation aimed at protecting minors online

CNN News Site: In-Depth Reporting and Analysis with Some Financial Conflicts and Sensational Language Shania Shelton Tuesday, 30 July 2024 17:03
  • Unique Points
    • The Senate has passed legislation aimed at protecting children online amid an ongoing national debate about the effect of social media use on children.
    • , The bill, known as the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA), requires platforms to provide safeguards for minors, including restricting access to minors’ personal data and providing parents with tools to supervise minors’ use of a platform.
    • , Platforms would also be required to provide minors with easily accessible options to delete their account or personal data, as well as options to limit the amount of time they spend on them.
    • , The bill allows parents, minors and schools to submit reports if there is harm to a minor, and platforms would have to establish a process for responding.
    • , The bill prohibits advertisements shown to kids and teens that include narcotic drugs, tobacco products, gambling or alcohol.
    • , KOSA would be enforced by the Federal Trade Commission and state attorneys general could also bring civil actions if there are violations in their states.
    • , The Children and Teens’ Online Privacy Protection Act amends the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act of 1998 to strengthen protections relating to the online collection, use, and disclosure of personal information of children and teens, including allowing minors the opportunity to delete their personal data.
    • , The push for further regulation of social media use for minors at the federal level has been an ongoing mission and follows efforts by some state legislatures, including Colorado and New York, to attempt to regulate social media platforms’ influence over minors.
  • Accuracy
    • ]The Senate has passed legislation aimed at protecting children online[
    • The bill, known as the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA), requires platforms to provide safeguards for minors, including restricting access to minors’ personal data and providing parents with tools to supervise minors’ use of a platform.
    • The bill would require limits on features that encourage children and teens to stay on the platform longer, such as rewards for time spent on the platform and notifications.
    • Platforms would also be required to provide minors with easily accessible options to delete their account or personal data, as well as options to limit the amount of time they spend on them.
  • Deception (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Fallacies (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication

88%

The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
(Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

How the Kids Online Safety Act Was Dragged Into a Political War

The Name Of The NZ Prefix. I PWA NZI.P.Was Dropped. Cecilia Kang Tuesday, 30 July 2024 14:53
  • Unique Points
    • 300 high school students from the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) lobbied against the Kids Online Safety Act last week.
    • Anjali Verma, a 17-year-old rising high school senior from Bucks County, Pa., was part of the student lobbying campaign and expressed concerns about censorship.
    • Fight for the Future organized students to write letters urging lawmakers to scrap the Kids Online Safety Act in June.
    • Patriot Voices, founded by former Republican senator Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania, is also protesting against the bill with an online petition.
  • Accuracy
    • The Kids Online Safety Act was passed by the Senate on Tuesday.
    • The bill would require social media platforms and other sites to limit features that can heighten cyberbullying, harassment and the glorification of self-harm.
    • The Kids Online Safety Act would also require tech companies to turn on the highest privacy and safety settings for users under 17 and let them opt out of some features that have been shown to lead to compulsive use.
  • Deception (80%)
    The article contains selective reporting and emotional manipulation. The author quotes only the opinions of those opposing the Kids Online Safety Act without providing any counterarguments or perspectives from those in favor of the bill. The author also uses emotive language such as 'heated political war' and 'escalations' to manipulate readers' emotions towards a particular viewpoint.
    • What was supposed to be a simple piece of legislation to protect children online has been dragged into a heated political war.
    • Liberals worry about censorship of transgender care, while conservatives are concerned about the same with anti-abortion efforts.
    • The teenagers told the staffs of 85 lawmakers that the legislation could censor important conversations, particularly among marginalized groups like L.G.B.T.Q. communities.
  • Fallacies (85%)
    The article contains inflammatory rhetoric and appeals to authority. It also presents a dichotomous depiction of the opposition to the Kids Online Safety Act.
    • . . . the legislation faces an uphill battle in the House because of censorship concerns.
    • Members of the A.C.L.U. National Advocacy Institute's high school program gathered to lobby against the Kids Online Safety Act last week.
    • The teenagers told the staffs of 85 lawmakers that the legislation could censor important conversations, particularly among marginalized groups like L.G.B.T.Q. communities.
  • Bias (95%)
    The author, Cecilia Kang, presents the opposing sides of the debate over the Kids Online Safety Act in a balanced manner. However, she uses language that depicts both sides as having valid concerns and potential for censorship. This could be seen as implying that both sides are extreme or unreasonable.
    • Liberals worry about censorship of transgender care, while conservatives are concerned about the same with anti-abortion efforts.
      • The effort was one of many escalations in recent months by those who oppose the bill.
      • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
        None Found At Time Of Publication
      • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
        None Found At Time Of Publication

      100%

      The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
      (Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

      A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

      US Senate passes major online child safety reforms which face uncertain fate in House

      theguardian.com Article URL: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/feb/13/ pakistan-·coalition-·agrees-to-form-government Tuesday, 30 July 2024 18:37
      • Unique Points
        • The US Senate passed major online child safety reforms in a vote on Tuesday.
        • Two bills, the Children and Teens’ Online Privacy Protection Act (Coppa 2.0) and the Kids Online Safety Act (Kosa), would need to pass in the Republican-controlled House to become law.
        • The first bill, Coppa 2.0, would ban targeted advertising to minors and data collection without their consent, and give parents and kids the option to delete their information from social media platforms.
        • The Senate approved both bills in a rare bipartisan 91-3 vote.
      • Accuracy
        No Contradictions at Time Of Publication
      • Deception (100%)
        None Found At Time Of Publication
      • Fallacies (100%)
        None Found At Time Of Publication
      • Bias (100%)
        None Found At Time Of Publication
      • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
        None Found At Time Of Publication
      • Author Conflicts Of Interest (0%)
        None Found At Time Of Publication