A Step Forward: Why Congress’s Latest Hearing Matters for Kids’ Online Safety

The Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), passed in 1998, remains the only federal law specifically protecting children online. Many efforts to strengthen federal protections have stalled. Last year, two bipartisan bills –COPPA 2.0, which would extend privacy protections to teens, and the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA), which would establish safeguards for kids and additional responsibilities for platforms –  passed the Senate by an overwhelming 91–3 but never received a full House vote. Both have been reintroduced this year.

That is why the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s legislative hearing was so important. The slate included both COPPA 2.0 and KOSA. The House drafts are not perfect, but even with their shortcomings, this still marks a meaningful step forward for bipartisan support to protect children. Additional measures—such as requirements for independent research, greater platform transparency, and expanded data rights would strengthen the legislation. Changes to the drafts, including the removal of unnecessary restrictions on states’ abilities to regulate tech, would also be beneficial. But those improvements should complement, not stall the urgent need for robust, evidence-based protections. Every year we wait, children remain exposed and platforms unaccountable. 

This hearing is not yet a victory, but it is progress worth celebrating. I applaud Chairman Guthrie for prioritizing this discussion and I remain grateful to the many champions of children’s digital well-being in both the House and the Senate.