S. 1748: Kids Online Safety Act

The Kids Online Safety Act is designed to enhance the safety of children using the internet. The bill introduces several key measures to ensure that online platforms take responsibility for the well-being of their minor users. Below is an overview of the main components of the bill:

Parental Controls and Safeguards

Online platforms will be required to implement features that allow parents to control and monitor their children's online activity. This includes:

• Strengthened parental controls to limit exposure to harmful content.
• Measures to manage and reduce interactions that may pose risks to children.

Transparency Requirements

The act mandates that online platforms provide clearer information on how they operate, specifically regarding:

• The data they collect from users, particularly minors.
• The steps they take to protect children's safety while using their services.

Independent Audits and Risk Assessment

Online platforms will be subject to independent audits focused on assessing risks to minors. This includes:

• Evaluations of how effectively they are implementing safety measures.
• The obligation to disclose audit results to relevant authorities.

Restrictions on Market Research

There will be new limitations on market research practices involving children, which stipulate that:

• Platforms cannot conduct market research targeting minors without obtaining parental consent.

Kids Online Safety Council

The bill establishes a dedicated Kids Online Safety Council, which will:

• Oversee the implementation of safety standards for children online.
• Provide guidance and recommendations for enhancing online safety.

Enforcement Mechanisms

To ensure compliance with the new regulations, various enforcement mechanisms will be set up, allowing authorities to:

• Monitor and penalize platforms that fail to adhere to safety requirements.
• Implement measures to protect children in the online environment effectively.

Relevant Companies

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