U.S. Rep. Castor Applauds Senate Passage of Stronger Protections for Kids Online

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor released the following statement after the U.S. Senate passed companion legislation to her Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) and her Children and Teens' Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA 2.0) in a bipartisan vote of 91-3:

"For years, I have sounded the alarm about the manipulative and predatory practices of Big Tech platforms that profit off our kids' data and risk exposing them to harmful content. I introduced the bipartisan COPPA 2.0 and KOSA in the House to give young people a fighting chance to avoid dangerous online content and situations that have imperiled their lives and privacy. Research unequivocally shows that our increasingly digital world is hazardous for children, with popular apps pushing kids to spend unhealthy amounts of time on their devices, severely affecting their mental health. Congress must establish and strengthen safeguards to protect kids' data, end the incessant surveillance of children, address addictive design features and require transparency in algorithms.

"America's kids can't afford for us to continue waiting to get them the online protections they need and deserve. I urge swift action in the House and encourage my colleagues to support COPPA 2.0 and KOSA."

Castor has been leading efforts in the Congress to create and strengthen protections for youth. COPPA 2.0 focuses on updating privacy protections online, while KOSA confronts harmful design features used to hook kids.