Lawmakers Reintroduce the Kids Internet Design and Safety Act

Sens Edward Markey (D-MA) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Rep Kathy Castor (D-FL) reintroduced the Kids Internet Design and Safety (KIDS) Act (S.2918) to stop online practices such as manipulative marketing, amplification of harmful content, and damaging design features, which threaten young people online. The re-introduction of the legislation comes as the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Subcommittee on Consumer Protection, Product Safety, and Data Security holds a hearing regarding harms to children online, including Facebook’s research into the impact of its apps on young audiences. The legislation is also co-sponsored by Reps Jennifer Wexton (D-VA), Lori Trahan (D-MA) and Yvette Clarke (D-NY). Endorsers of the KIDS Act include: Common Sense Media, Center for Digital Democracy, Fairplay, and the American Academy of Pediatrics.