The revised text of the proposed Kids Online Safety Act clarifies that it "will not censor, restrict, or remove any online content."
X, the social media platform owned by Elon Musk, played a key role in negotiating updates to the legislation, which faced criticism in the U.S. House of Representatives over potential censorship concerns.
The act seeks to safeguard minors by requiring social media platforms to protect their personal data and limit interactions with strangers, among other measures. Although an earlier version passed the Senate with strong bipartisan support in July, progress stalled in the House, where some Republican leaders raised concerns about government overreach and censorship of online speech.
Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), who introduced the bill, stated that the revised version should alleviate those fears.
“With the leadership of X, the updates to the Kids Online Safety Act enhance its protections while preserving free speech. These changes should put to rest the misconception that the bill could be used by unelected officials to suppress Americans’ speech,” the senators said in a joint statement on December 7.
X CEO Linda Yaccarino emphasized that safety and free speech can coexist and said the revisions strike that balance. "We’ve heard the concerns of parents and youth advocates for stronger protections on online platforms," Yaccarino wrote in a post on X. She urged lawmakers to pass the revised act, saying it protects free expression while ensuring minors’ safety.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) and Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) had criticized the original version of the bill. Johnson found some sections “very problematic,” and Scalise argued it could be used to target conservatives’ speech. Their concerns stemmed from the bill's reliance on the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to enforce a “duty of care” that requires platforms to address risks to minors’ health and safety.
Although the FTC operates independently, its commissioners are presidential appointees. A report by the House Oversight and Accountability Committee in October accused FTC Chair Lina Khan of being influenced by progressive and Biden administration agendas.
In response, the House Committee on Energy and Commerce proposed its own version of the Kids Online Safety Act in September. This version narrowed the “duty of care” requirement to high-impact platforms, adjusted standards based on platform size, and removed certain mental health conditions from the list of harms.
On December 4, Scalise noted that House members were still working to address provisions that empower “unelected bureaucrats” to regulate online speech, leaving the bill's future uncertain before the next Congress.
The Senate’s updated version attempts to address these concerns by specifying that the act does not allow enforcement actions based on constitutionally protected speech. According to the offices of Blackburn and Blumenthal, the revised text confirms that the legislation “does not censor, restrict, or remove online content” or authorize the FTC or state attorneys general to file lawsuits over any speech or content.
The bill has garnered significant support, including endorsements from 32 state attorneys general and over 240 organizations, such as the Heritage Foundation and the America First Policy Institute.