As the U.S. Congress speeds up work on a bill to strengthen child-protection duties for social media platforms, regulations on big tech corporations such as Meta and Google are expected to tighten.
According to Bloomberg and other foreign media on the 23rd (local time), the U.S. House and Senate are pushing to pass legislation to strengthen online safety for children. Bloomberg said that although legislation had been delayed for years due to lobbying by big tech corporations and political conflict, a recent bipartisan consensus has increased the chances of action this summer.
A bipartisan compromise unveiled that day by House Energy and Commerce Committee leaders would require social media platforms such as Meta and Google to apply strong default privacy and safety settings to minor account holders.
Chairperson Brett Guthrie of the House Energy and Commerce Committee and Democratic ranking member Frank Pallone said in a joint statement that it "strengthens parents' authority, raises the level of privacy protection for children and teens, and holds big tech corporations accountable."
In the Senate, Republican Sen. Marsha Blackburn is pushing a stronger regulatory plan. The core is a provision imposing a "duty of care" on social media corporations. If introduced, the provision could expose platforms to legal liability when harm occurs after algorithms recommend posts that may be harmful to children, such as content on eating disorders, online bullying, or self-harm.
Blackburn is consulting with the White House on legislative options that include the provision. In a statement, Blackburn said, "Without a duty of care, big tech corporations will maintain the current system that prioritizes profit over child safety," adding, "The White House also supports this approach."
Separately, the White House is reportedly considering linking a bill that would require app store operators to verify users' ages with the child online safety bill.
Meta and other major technology corporations oppose the provision. The corporations argue it is difficult to accurately verify users' ages and that imposing legal liability for content recommendations could chill online freedom of expression.
Meta has reportedly lobbied during the child online safety legislative process to limit its own liability. According to Reuters, Meta proposed that the Senate's regulatory plan include language allowing online corporations to be shielded from damages claims and lawsuits related to minors' online safety and privacy issues.
Meta currently faces dozens of lawsuits related to children's social media addiction. In March, a California court ruled against Meta in a social media addiction lawsuit brought by a woman in her 20s, Kaylee G.M., ordering Meta and Google to pay a total of $6 million (9.2112 billion won).
Blackburn is also reportedly considering including in the bill a provision that would limit state governments' artificial intelligence (AI) safety regulations to win support from big tech corporations.
According to Bloomberg, the White House told industry officials that the Trump administration views child online safety as a key legislative priority ahead of the November midterm elections.