FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
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BALTIMORE, MD — Attorney General Anthony G. Brown today joined a bipartisan coalition of attorneys general opposing the federal Kids Internet and Digital Safety Act (“KIDS Act”), H.R. 7757, arguing that the bill would weaken states’ ability to protect children online while insulating Big Tech from accountability. The coalition warned that the KIDS Act would broadly preempt state laws addressing online harms to minors, including social media harms, obscenity, social gaming platforms, and artificial intelligence chatbots.
Attorney General Brown emphasized that Congress should instead advance legislation that includes a meaningful duty of care requirement for online platforms.
The coalition expressed support for the Senate version of the Kids Online Safety Act (“KOSA”), S. 1748, which includes a key Duty of Care provision requiring online platforms to act in the best interests of minors; it also preserved states’ authority to enforce stronger protections for children and teens.
The letter comes as attorneys general across the country continue investigations and litigation involving major social media platforms, including Meta and TikTok, over allegations that their platforms target and harm underage users.
The letter is being sent to Congressional leadership, including Senate Majority Leader John Thune, Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer, House Speaker Mike Johnson, and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries.
In sending the letter, Attorney General Brown joins the attorneys general of Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Northern Mariana Islands, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming.
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