A coalition of 40 state and territorial attorneys general has called on Congress to prioritize the Senate's version of the Kids Online Safety Act, deeming it a more robust measure to protect minors online compared to its House counterpart.
Acting through the National Association of Attorneys General, the group sent a letter to congressional leadership explicitly endorsing S. 1748, the Senate bill, while rejecting H.R. 6484, the House companion bill, as insufficient.
The attorneys general's push highlights key structural differences between the two versions. The Senate proposal establishes a federally enforceable “Duty of Care” that would require covered platforms to take specific actions to mitigate defined harms to minors.
This Duty of Care provision is positioned as a critical strength of the Senate bill, aiming to impose stronger regulatory obligations on online platforms to address risks faced by children.
Critics of the legislation, including the source reporting on the letter, argue that the Kids Online Safety Act would effectively eliminate online anonymity by linking users' online activity and speech to real-world identities.
The letter, a copy of which was obtained by SGT Report, underscores the attorneys general's unified stance in favor of enhanced federal oversight on digital platforms to safeguard young users.
As debates continue in Congress, this bipartisan bloc of 40 attorneys general represents significant pressure to advance the Senate's more stringent approach to online child safety.
