Senator Peters’ Statement on Passage of the Kids Online Safety Act and Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI) released the following statement after helping to pass the Kids Online Safety Act and the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act:

“These two bipartisan bills represent the most significant child online safety legislation in years. They will help keep kids safe on social media and ensure that their personal data is private and protected. I was proud to support this commonsense legislation and am heartened to see it pass with such overwhelming bipartisan support.”

Peters is a cosponsor of both the Kids Online Safety Act and Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act. The Kids Online Safety Act – which Peters helped advance in the Senate as a member of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee – would protect children online by providing young people and parents with the tools, safeguards, and transparency they need to help safeguard against online harms. The bill would require social media platforms to put the well-being of children first, ensuring an environment that is safer by default. It also would require independent audits by experts to ensure the platforms are taking meaningful steps to address risks to kids. 

COPPA 2.0 would update the landmark Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) – enacted in 1998 – to strengthen privacy protections for young people, ban targeted advertising to kids and teens, and create an Eraser Button for parents and kids by requiring companies to permit users to delete information. 

Peters, who also serves as Chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, last year convened a hearing to examine how social media platforms continue to prioritize increased user engagement and revenue over safety and security. Peters also released an investigative report that found social media companies’ current incentive structures contribute to the spread of extremist content. He previously led a hearing with independent social media experts to discuss how the spread of extremist content on social media platforms translates to real-world violence.

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