On Wednesday, August 6th, 2026, the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee advanced several bills focused on online safety and artificial intelligence, 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 methods. The bill asserts that "shielding minors from access to online pornographic content is a compelling government interest" and claims its measures are the "least restrictive means for Congress" to achieve this goal. However, simple age attestation, such as entering a birthdate, would be insufficient; companies must also verify IP addresses. The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) warned that these verification requirements could "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 did not advance due to a lack of quorum.

KOSA, under consideration since 2022, mandates that "covered online platforms" like social media and video streaming services implement safeguards to protect users under 17. Free speech advocates have cautioned 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, along with another bill compelling AI companies to implement critical privacy protections for 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. The bill also mandates platforms to verify users' ages and parental authorization before allowing minors access. Gallego cited France's ban on social media use for children under 15 as inspiration for the legislation.

The bills reflect a bipartisan effort to enhance online safety for minors but have raised significant concerns about potential impacts on internet freedom and privacy.

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