ParentsSOS Applauds Historic U.S. Senate Passage of the Kids Online Safety and Privacy Act
(WASHINGTON, D.C., July 30, 2024) – Parents for Safe Online Spaces (ParentsSOS), an educational initiative formed by bereaved families to combat online harms, issued the following statement after the Senate's passage of the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSPA):
"Today’s Senate vote marks a historic and emotional milestone for myself and for all parents who have fought tirelessly to protect our children from the dangerous environments created by Big Tech,” said Maurine Molak, Co-Founder of ParentsSOS and David's Legacy Foundation. “We have long awaited the day when our government takes decisive action against the exploitative practices of Big Tech that needlessly expose our young people to dangerous, sometimes deadly situations. I commend Majority Leader Schumer and Senators Blumenthal, Blackburn, Cassidy, and Markey for their unwavering commitment to this cause. Now, we call on the House to act quickly as well to protect our future generations from preventable tragedies."
Families who have endured the heartbreaking loss of a child due to online harms have long advocated for Congress to address Big Tech’s dangerous design choices and predatory algorithms. Today’s passage of KOSPA amounts to the first legislative step since 1998 to regulate online environments, aiming to protect minors from these risks. ParentsSOS calls on every member of Congress to put children's safety at the forefront and support KOSPA, emphasizing that the well-being of children and families must come before the profit motives of Big Tech.
"Today, an overwhelming bipartisan majority of US Senators said that Big Tech must stop the unconscionable business practices and design choices that have fueled a mental health crisis and cost the lives of countless children around the country,” said Josh Golin, Executive Director of Fairplay and Co-Founder of ParentsSOS. “Today’s historic vote is a testament to the tireless efforts of parents who have lost their children to Big Tech's greed and an incredible coalition that believes a better internet for young people is possible. We thank Senators Blackburn, Blumenthal, Cassidy and Markey for introducing this game-changing legislation and call on the House to follow the Senate's lead."
ParentsSOS extends its gratitude to Sen. Richard Blumenthal and Sen. Marsha Blackburn for their continued leadership in advancing KOSPA through the Senate, and Majority Leader Chuck Schumer for his outspoken support for the bill. Today’s vote is a culmination of sustained bipartisan support for a strong bill designed to enforce stringent duties on social media companies to protect minors.
ParentsSOS will continue to provide educational resources and advocate for legislative change to protect children online. For more information about ParentsSOS and its mission, visit https://www.parentssos.org/.
