H.R. 6484: Kids Online Safety Act

This bill, known as the Kids Online Safety Act, aims to enhance the safety of minors when using online platforms. Here are the main components and requirements laid out in the bill:

Definitions

• Child: An individual under the age of 13.
• Minor: An individual under the age of 17.
• Covered Platform: Any website, software, or online service that allows users to create accounts and share content.

Preventing Harm to Minors

The bill requires covered platforms to establish policies to protect minors from:

• Threats of physical violence
• Sexual exploitation and abuse
• Illegal products such as narcotics and gambling
• Financial harms from deceptive practices

Platforms must base their policies on the size and technology of the platform.

Safeguards for Minors

• Platforms must have tools that allow minors to limit communication with other users.
• Defaults for safety settings should prioritize the highest level of protection for minors.
• Parental controls must be accessible, allowing parents to manage settings and view usage statistics.

Disclosure Requirements

Before any registration or purchase by a minor, platforms must provide clear information about:

• Policies for protecting minors
• How to access parental control tools

Audit and Reporting

Covered platforms are required to undergo annual audits by independent third parties to evaluate compliance with the act and to assess the use of safeguards and parental tools. They must submit audit results to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) within 30 days of completion.

Enforcement

The FTC is tasked with enforcing the bill. Violations will be considered unfair or deceptive practices under existing law, and state officials can also take action to protect residents in relation to violations.

Kids Online Safety Council

The bill establishes a new advisory council to monitor online safety risks for minors, gather recommendations, and report findings to Congress. The council will consist of experts from various fields and stakeholders.

Relationship to Other Laws

This bill is not intended to limit existing laws regarding child online privacy or procedures laid out in prior legislation. It also cannot enforce laws that contradict the rights outlined in the First Amendment.

Effective Date

The act will take effect 18 months after its enactment, providing time for platforms to comply with its provisions.

Relevant Companies

• GOOGL (Alphabet Inc.): The parent company of Google, YouTube, and other online platforms that would need to implement changes to comply with the requirements for safeguarding minors online.
• FB (Meta Platforms, Inc.): A major social media company that owns Facebook and Instagram, which would be required to enhance its protective measures for young users.
• AMZN (Amazon.com, Inc.): As a platform where users can create accounts and make purchases, Amazon would need to provide the necessary disclosures and parental controls as outlined in the legislation.