Survivor Parents ‘Deeply Disappointed’ in House Version of the Kids Online Safety Act, Urge Congress to Pass Senate Version

KOSA’s House version drops mandating safety-by-design and allows for preemption to block state-level safety laws

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) — Parents for Safe Online Spaces (ParentsSOS), a coalition of 20 survivor families impacted by online harms, expressed deep disappointment in today’s introduction of the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) in the House of Representatives, removing the duty of care, which is the most crucial component of the legislation. The new text also preempts states from enacting or enforcing their own laws to protect children. The survivor parent group called for the House to adopt the Senate version of KOSA, which has been co-sponsored by 68 senators.

“After three years of meeting with legislators to share our families’ stories of loss and our legislative priorities, we are extremely disappointed that this bill doesn’t contain the ‘duty of care’ we asked for in every meeting and that the bill preempts the state laws that so many parents have worked tirelessly to pass,” said Maurine Molak, mother of David Molak, forever 16, co-founder of ParentsSOS and the David’s Legacy Foundation. “We strongly urge Congress to work together and put KOSA back together again. The Senate version serves all American families and communities and would prevent further children from dying.”

The Senate version of KOSA has amassed bipartisan support since its introduction earlier this year and is ready for passage. More than two-thirds of Senators—a filibuster-proof majority including both Republicans and Democrats—have co-sponsored the bill. A near-identical bill passed the Senate last year with an overwhelming vote of 91-3.

The House version of KOSA also preempts state laws and, if passed, could nullify dozens of state laws to protect kids online, such as the Kids Codes in Maryland and Nebraska, the SCOPE Act in Texas, the New York SAFE Act, and other laws across the country that empower parents to protect their kids online. It would also prevent states from passing new laws to address social media harms and addiction.

“It’s bad enough that Congress hasn’t passed a law to protect children online in over 25 years,” said ParentsSOS founding member Sharon Winkler, mother of Alex Peiser, forever 17. “Now, they are attempting to stop states from protecting vulnerable children from online harms.” 

ParentsSOS membership issued a singular message to House leadership: “Enough is enough.” Each day that Congress delays action on KOSA, more parents tragically join the ranks of survivor parents who have lost a child to preventable online harms. The group strongly urges House leadership to pledge to adopt the Senate bill and schedule a vote before the end of the year.