House Passes Kids Online Safety Package

The House passed a bipartisan package of children's online safety bills in a 267-117 vote Monday, with 47 members not voting. The package, taken from portions of 14 digital safety bills, would require new safety features and parental controls on online platforms, restrict the use of minors' data for targeted advertising, require age verification for and establish new rules governing AI chatbots and online games. A similar kids' online safety act was passed by the Senate easily in 2024. However, House Republicans prevented it from ever hitting the House floor because of concerns over censorship and freedom of speech. The House package, which reflects a narrower approach than the Senate version, was brought to the floor Monday under a fast-track process called suspension of the rules, which requires two-thirds majority support for passage.