A new report reveals that Big Tech companies, including Meta and Alphabet, have spent a staggering $90 million in lobbying efforts to block the Senate-passed Kids Online Safety Act. The bill, which aims to protect children from the harmful effects of social media, has become the target of intense lobbying from tech giants, who oppose provisions that would hold them legally accountable for online harms to minors.
The bill, introduced by Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), seeks to implement a “duty of care” on social media companies, requiring them to take responsibility for protecting children and teens from online dangers such as bullying, addiction, and sexual exploitation. This provision has raised alarm among Big Tech companies, who argue that it could expose them to lawsuits and increased regulation.
To stop the bill from advancing in the House, Big Tech has engaged in a high-stakes lobbying campaign that spans the political spectrum. Progressive groups are being lobbied to oppose the bill by raising concerns that it could lead to censorship of LGBTQ content, while conservative groups are being warned that it could result in censorship of anti-abortion speech. By playing on these cultural divides, Big Tech hopes to prevent the bill from gaining the necessary support to pass.
Meta has also pushed for an alternative approach, suggesting that parental consent be required for teens under 16 to download apps, shifting the burden of responsibility from the companies to parents. This proposal is seen as an attempt to avoid the “duty of care” provision while still addressing some concerns about child safety online.
While these lobbying efforts have been successful in stalling the bill, they have sparked backlash from parents and child safety advocates, many of whom argue that the bill is essential to protecting children from the dangers of social media. Parents who have lost children to suicide linked to social media addiction have spoken out in favor of the bill, emphasizing that the stakes are too high to allow Big Tech to dictate the terms.
Despite the lobbying, the bill’s supporters remain determined to see it passed. They argue that the protection of children’s mental and emotional well-being should take precedence over the interests of powerful corporations. The next few months will determine whether the bill can overcome the intense opposition from Big Tech and other special interests.
