House Passes Kids Internet and Digital Safety Act

 

Key facts:

Name: Kids Internet and Digital Safety (KIDS) Act, H.R. 7757

Passed the U.S. House on Monday, June 29, 2026, in a bipartisan 267-117 vote. (IAPP)

It now heads to the Senate, where its fate is uncertain.

The bill was introduced by Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Rep. Brett Guthrie (R-Ky.) alongside Rep. Frank Pallone (D-N.J.). (IAPP)

What's in the bill:

It combines 14 separate child online safety proposals, including a revised version of the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA). (IAPP)

It would set minors' accounts to the strongest safety and privacy settings by default, block private messaging for children under 13, and restrict disappearing-message features for teens under 17. (WeThePurple)

It adds new safeguards for AI chatbots and online games, mandates age verification for pornography sites, and limits targeted advertising using minors' data. (WeThePurple)

Why it's controversial:

Lawmakers removed KOSA's "duty of care" provision after it raised censorship concerns. (IAPP)

Digital rights groups and some lawmakers argue this omission weakens KOSA's protections. (IAPP) Sen. Maria Cantwell has criticized the package as falling short.

The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) warns the bill's requirements come at the cost of privacy and free expression. (IAPP)

Argument for support:

Rep. Gus Bilirakis noted that nearly half of American teens say they're online almost constantly, about half spend four-plus hours a day on screens for leisure, and 95% have a smartphone. (Washington Times)

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