Tracking the online movements of children and teens and collecting their personal data has become a widespread and harmful practice across internet platforms. Social media companies have emphasized profit over the safety of young users. Parents are rightfully worried: 80% of parents say they worry about their children's privacy when using mobile apps, with 73% saying they’re concerned about their children’s location being tracked.

Sen. Cantwell is a longtime leader on privacy matters, holding eight hearings on privacy and tech-related topics during the last Congress. Under Sen. Cantwell’s leadership, the Committee advanced bills to protect children in the digital age. Sen. Cantwell continued to press for strong protections for children and teens during the lame duck session, but her efforts were blocked by Republicans and industry. 

“The Committee has heard compelling testimony from pediatricians, privacy experts, federal privacy enforcers, academics, [and] whistleblower Frances Haugen, all who have come to us with the same message—that many online platforms, including some social media platforms, are designing… products that are detrimental to the mental and even physical health of our nation’s kids and teens.” – Sen. Cantwell

Following reporting from the Wall Street Journal in the fall of 2021, the Commerce Subcommittee on Consumer Protection, Product Safety, and Data Security heard testimony from Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen that Meta, Facebook’s parent company, knows about the negative impacts and toxic effects its platforms have on young users – including fostering negative body image issues, creating addiction-like use, promoting products and activities that are harmful or illegal for youth, and fueling destructive bullying, leading to suicide.  And yet, these platforms have failed to protect children and teens.

Two kids’ privacy bills advanced out of the Committee in July 2022 with Sen. Cantwell’s support, and she worked tirelessly to bring legislation to the Senate floor to protect kids.

Facebook Whistleblower, Frances Haugen, testifies to the Commerce Committee in Oct. 2021

Children and Teens’ Online Privacy Protection Act of 2021 (COPPA 2.0)

Sen. Markey introduced this legislation with Committee members Sens. Blumenthal and Lummis, as well as Sen. Cassidy, which updates the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) to update online data privacy rules for the 21st century to better protect children and teenagers online. This bipartisan legislation passed the Commerce Committee on July 27, 2022. The Committee will continue to work on this issue in the new Congress.

“The Senate Commerce Committee…took a historic step towards stopping Big Tech’s predatory behavior from harming kids every day. We need to send a loud message to Big Tech that enough is enough. Enough prioritizing money over mental health. Enough prioritizing profits over people. Enough prioritizing growth and business over girls and boys in this country.” – Sen. Markey

Children and Teens’ Online Privacy Protection Act:

• Prohibits internet companies from collecting personal information from users who are 13 to 16 years old without the user’s consent
• Bans targeted advertising directed at children and minors
• Requires websites to get consent in order to collect children’s and minors’ data
• Creates an “Eraser Button” for parents and kids to eliminate personal information
• Requires online companies to disclose the types of personal information collected and how information is used

Read More About the Children's Online Privacy Act

Kids Online Safety Act

Consumer Subcommittee Chair Sen. Blumenthal and Ranking Member Sen. Blackburn introduced the Kids Online Safety Act following a series of subcommittee hearings with social media companies and advocates about the online dangers facing children and teens and repeated failures by tech giants to prevent them.  This bipartisan legislation passed the Commerce Committee in July, 2022. The Committee will continue to work on this in the new Congress.

“This measure makes kids’ safety an internet priority. Big Tech has brazenly failed children and betrayed its trust, putting profits above safety. . . Algorithms driven by eyeballs and dollars will no longer hold sway. I will fight for swift passage alongside Senator Blackburn, my partner in this effort.” – Sen. Blumenthal

Kids Online Safety Act:

• Requires social media platforms to provide minors with options to protect their information and requires platforms to enable the strongest settings by default
• Gives parents new controls to identify and report harmful behaviors
• Creates a responsibility for social media platforms to prevent the promotion of harm to minors, such as the promotion of self-harm, suicide, eating disorders, substance abuse, sexual exploitation and unlawful products for minors
• Provides organizations with access to datasets from social media platforms to foster research regarding harm to the safety and well-being of minors

Read More About the Kids Online Safety Act