U.S. Sen. Katie Britt (R-Montgomery) recently filed legislation in the Senate to update federal law surrounding online data collection and advertisements directed at children and teens.
The Children and Teen’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA 2.0) would ban targeted advertising directed at children and teens. It also introduces an “Eraser Button,” which requires companies to allow users to delete any personal information collected from children or teens.
Britt and others in Congress have sounded the alarm in recent years, pointing to the increased use of social media and other online tools leading to mental health challenges in youth.
“Keeping American families safe includes keeping our kids safe on the internet,” Britt said. “Our country is in the throes of a mental health crisis, and the rise of social media usage among children and teenagers is inextricably tied to this problem. Putting in place updated, commonsense guardrails to protect kids from the dangers of social media and protect their privacy is a first step to stop our worsening mental health crisis.”
The legislation also establishes data minimization rules to prevent the excessive data collection from young users. It closes existing loopholes that currently permit platforms to overlook the presence of children and teens on their services. COPPA 2.0 seeks to build on its predecessor by prohibiting internet companies from collecting personal information from users aged 13 to 16 without obtaining explicit consent.
Britt was joined in the bi[partisan legislation by U.S. Sens. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) and Edward Markey (D-Mass.), both of whom equally pointed to the targeted effects of online providers toward children and teens as directly linked to the increase in mental health problems.
“Big Tech is knowingly fueling a mental health crisis in this country by exploiting kids and teens just so they can make more money,” Markey said. “It’s Congress’s job to stand up for young people and put an end to this. Congress must pass COPPA 2.0 to put immediate safeguards in place that prevent Big Tech from tracking, traumatizing, and targeting young people every second, every minute, and every hour of the day. I am proud of the protections guaranteed by my 1998 law, COPPA, but the fact remains that today’s online guardrails were written before the invention of the iPhone.
Britt also spoke from the Senate floor last month, highlighting the need for congressional action to protect online safety.
“While social media companies have taken some steps, it is clear that there is work for Congress to do,” Britt stated. “The last time a United States president signed a major piece of legislation addressing children and the internet was, wait for it, 1998. Almost 30 years ago, the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act was signed into law. For reference, at that time that the law was signed, MySpace didn’t even exist. It’s time for an update, and there is a clear place to start.”
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