Kids Internet and Digital Safety Act

Floor Speech

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Ms. LEE of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 7757, the Kids Internet and Digital Safety Act, or the KIDS Act.

Children today are growing up in a digital world that looks dramatically different than it did just a generation ago.

While technology has created tremendous opportunities to learn and to connect, it has also exposed young people to online predators, sexual exploitation, privacy violations, and increasingly sophisticated threats driven by artificial intelligence.

Parents are doing everything they can to protect their children online but should not have to navigate these challenges alone.

This legislation includes two bipartisan bills that I have been honored to lead. The first is the Promoting a Safer Internet for Minors Act.

I thank the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Soto), my colleague and fellow Floridian, for his support and partnership on this legislation.

This bill recognizes that education is one of the strongest tools we have to protect children before they become victims.

It directs the Federal Trade Commission to establish a nationwide public awareness campaign that equips parents, educators, and communities with practical, up-to-date guidance on helping children navigate the internet safely and responsibly.

The second is COPPA 2.0, which I am proud to lead along with Congressman Tim Walberg.

When Congress enacted the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act nearly three decades ago, social media did not exist, and online platforms were not collecting massive amounts of personal information to build user profiles and deliver targeted advertising.

This bill brings our privacy laws into the modern era by extending important protections to teenagers, limiting unnecessary data collection, prohibiting targeted advertising to children and to teens, creating clear expectations for tech platforms, and giving families greater control over their personal information.

Together, these provisions reflect a simple principle: Protecting children online requires both empowering families with the information they need and ensuring that online platforms handle children's personal information responsibly.

Technology will continue to evolve, and our laws must evolve with it.

I am grateful to Chairman Guthrie, Subcommittee Chairman Bilirakis, and my colleagues on the committee for their partnership in advancing this legislation. I urge all of my colleagues to support the KIDS Act.

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