News: Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer will kick off the process today to pass an unprecedented legislative package aimed at protecting minors from the harms of social media, with an initial procedural vote expected as soon as Thursday.
The package of bills, which includes the Kids Online Safety Act and the Children’s and Teens Online Privacy Protection Act, represents the most significant federal crackdown on Big Tech companies and social media platforms in the digital age.
The bills impose new privacy rules and require the platforms to give parents and guardians increased control over their children’s account settings. There’s broad bipartisan support for both pieces of legislation.
Schumer has tried to secure a time agreement in order to pass the package quickly, but hasn’t been able to get unanimous consent. Absent an agreement, final passage wouldn’t be until next week.
“It has been a long and daunting road to get this bill passed, which can change and save lives, but today, we are one monumental step closer to success,” Schumer told us.
Schumer is expected to announce his strategy during a floor speech after the Senate gavels in this afternoon.
