On Wednesday, August 6th, 2026, the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee voted on five bills aimed at enhancing online safety and regulating AI, including the Shielding Children's Retinas from Egregious Exposure on the Net (SCREEN) Act and the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA).

The SCREEN Act, introduced by Senator Mike Lee (R–Utah), seeks to require pornography websites to block minors through stringent age verification measures. The bill emphasizes that "shielding minors from access to online pornographic content is a compelling government interest" and claims its methods are the "least restrictive means for Congress" to achieve this goal. However, simple age attestation, such as entering a birthday, is deemed insufficient; companies would also need to verify IP addresses. The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) criticized these requirements, warning they would "force millions of adult internet users to give up their anonymity, privacy, and security before they access lawful speech." Despite privacy concerns, the SCREEN Act received majority support but did not advance due to lack of quorum.

KOSA, under consideration since 2022, mandates "covered online platforms" like social media and video streaming services to implement tools protecting users under 17. Free speech advocates have warned that KOSA could threaten online privacy and freedom.

Additionally, the committee advanced a bill requiring users under 18 to obtain parental consent before using chatbots, alongside another bill mandating AI companies to implement critical privacy safeguards on chatbots.

Representative Ruben Gallego (D–Ariz.) introduced the Parental Approval for Youth Social Media Act, which would require social media platforms to obtain parental consent for children creating or maintaining accounts. Platforms would also need to verify users' ages and parental authorization before granting minors access. Gallego was reportedly inspired by France's ban on social media use for children under 15.

The bills reflect a bipartisan effort to enhance online safety, though critics express concern over potential restrictions on internet freedom and privacy.

Sources