So-Called “Kids Safety” Bill Guts State Safety Laws to Protect Big Tech
Washington, D.C. — On Thursday, the House Committee on Energy and Commerce marked up the Kids Internet and Digital Safety Act, or KIDS Act, a bill supported by Big Tech that preempts existing, stronger state safety laws protecting children. Demand Progress led a coalition and organized a campaign asking Congress to oppose efforts to ban states from passing or enforcing AI laws.
The following is a statement from Demand Progress Education Fund AI Policy Advisor Colin McGlynn:
“The KIDS Act is not a bill to protect kids. It is a bill to protect AI companies when they harm kids. AI companies have allowed their chatbots to have sexual conversations with kids and counsel them to harm themselves. It makes no sense to pass a kids safety bill that doesn’t cover major online harms threatening kids and that guts state laws that protect kids from AI chatbots. Congress must reject the KIDS Act and instead prioritize the well-being of children over Big Tech.”