Cybersecurity Policy Report, Legislation to Protect Children Online Clears House, (Jul 1, 2026)

By Lynn Stanton

The House passed the Kids Internet and Digital Safety (KIDS) Act (HR 7757) by a 267 to 117 vote on Monday.

The House Energy and Commerce Committee last week reached a bipartisan agreement on the legislation, which allows states to impose stronger protections for children than those in the federal bill (CPR, June 23). However, it retains the “actual knowledge” standard for liability under the legislation, which Democrats had objected to.

The KIDS Act includes parts of the SCREEN Act, the Safe Messaging for Kids Act, the SPY KIDS Act, the Safer Gaming Act, the SAFE Bots Act, the Safe Social Media Act, the No Fentanyl on Social Media Act, the Assessing Safety Tools for Parents and Minors Act, the Promoting a Safe Internet for Minors Act, the AWARE Act, the Kids Internet and Safety Partnership Act, the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA), and the Children and Teens’ Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA 2.0).

In a statement, Rep. Gus Bilirakis (R., Fla.) said KOSA would establish “a comprehensive set of safeguards, such as addressing compulsive usage, and parental controls to protect kids. One troubling post should not turn into a constant stream of depression, suicide, or eating disorder content. I remain committed to ensuring children can safely navigate the digital world while holding technology companies accountable. Protecting our kids must always come before protecting corporate profits.”

Rep. Kathy Castor (D., Fla.) said, “For years, parents, young people, pediatricians, psychologists, teachers and advocates have made clear that Big Tech must act to reduce the harms experienced by too many kids online. This bill strengthens privacy protections for children and teens, bans targeted advertising to young people, gives families more control and preserves parents’ ability to seek justice in court. This is an important step, but it is not the end of our work. I will continue to press to create a safer digital environment for children and teens.”

TechNet President and Chief Executive Officer Linda Moore said, “As companies continue to improve safety features to promote young Americans’ digital well-being, we welcome the House’s passage of [Energy and Commerce Committee] Chairman [Brett] Guthrie [R., Ky.] and Ranking Member [Frank] Pallone’s [D., N.J.] comprehensive national framework for youth online safety as a positive step towards federal legislation. We look forward to continuing our engagement with the Senate as they develop their own legislative package, with the goal of passing a balanced bipartisan law that protects children on the internet while promoting innovation.”

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