
Big Tech companies are spending millions to stop the Kids Online Safety Act, which seeks to safeguard children and teens from the dangers of social media platforms. The bill, which passed the Senate with overwhelming support, aims to hold tech companies accountable for the harmful effects their platforms have on young users, such as bullying, addiction, and exploitation.
According to The Wall Street Journal, Meta and Alphabet, the parent company of Google, have spent nearly $90 million in lobbying efforts over the past three years to prevent the bill from passing in the House. Their primary opposition stems from the bill’s “duty of care” provision, which would hold social media companies legally liable for the safety of minors using their platforms.
Lobbyists have worked hard to create division among lawmakers, using cultural issues such as abortion and LGBTQ+ rights to divide progressives and conservatives. By framing the bill as a threat to freedom of speech, Big Tech has attempted to stir up fear on both sides of the aisle, hoping to generate enough opposition to halt the bill’s momentum.
In response to the bill, Meta has suggested an alternative solution: require parental consent for minors to download apps, shifting the responsibility away from the companies. This proposal would let the tech giants off the hook, absolving them from the legal accountability that the Kids Online Safety Act seeks to impose.
Along with the lobbying efforts of Big Tech, News Corp has also spent millions to sway the debate. The influence of these major corporations is a clear attempt to protect their interests, rather than addressing the real concerns about children’s safety online.
Despite the powerful lobbying efforts, there is growing support for the bill, particularly from parents who have lost children due to the harmful effects of social media. They argue that the bill is necessary to protect future generations from the dangers of online platforms.