Want to Keep Kids Safe Online? Don't Just 'Do Something'

In the wake of recent documents released by Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen, Congress has laser-focused on protecting children from the perceived dangers of the internet.

This has resulted in new proposals to expand the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) and the reintroduction of the Kids Internet Design and Safety (KIDS) Act as American lawmakers push for policy changes. But the haste of our politicians to “do something” could make it harder for parents and websites to help kids and keep them safe online. Unfortunately, most of the policies currently up for consideration will result in poor policy interventions that undermine the positive impact of technology, worsen the digital divide, and make children less safe on the internet.

These proposals all center on adapting and advancing COPPA, a bill initially passed in 1988 to protect children online by preventing the potential abuse of children’s data by nefarious actors including child predators. After almost 25 years, COPPA still faces many questions about its potential enforcement and specific elements. Our lawmakers should be careful about the practical effects of implementing new COPPA-style regulations.