Senators call the vote a “breakthrough moment in tech regulation in the United States”

Washington (July 30, 2024) - Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass), a member of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, and Senator Bill Cassidy (R-La.) issued the following statement after the Senate voted 91-3 to pass their bipartisan, bicameral Children and Teens’ Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA 2.0):

“Passage of COPPA 2.0 is an overdue and much-needed victory for future of our young people,” said Senators Markey and Cassidy. “The Senate has sent a clear message that Big Tech's days of targeting and tracking kids and teenagers online are over. Enough with harmful targeted advertising. Enough with collecting deeply personal information on young people. Enough with ignoring the health and well-being millions of young people. Enough with leaving teens and parents powerless to delete a mistaken social media post. Enough with lining Big Tech’s pockets at the expense of our young people.

“To the parents, advocates, and young people who have been heroically fighting for these privacy protections for more than a decade, we thank you. We would not be here without your passion, commitment, and bravery.

“This vote is a breakthrough moment for tech regulation in the United States with Congress finally stepping up to the plate and putting real guardrails on Big Tech’s pernicious business model. We are grateful for the commitment of Leader Schumer, Chair Cantwell, and Ranking Member Cruz on these issues, and we look forward to working with our House colleagues to enact COPPA 2.0 into law.”

Specifically, COPPA 2.0 would

  • Ban targeted advertising to children and teens;
  • Prohibit platforms from collecting personal information from users who are 13 to 16 years old without their consent;
  • Revise the original Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act’s “actual knowledge” standard to close the loophole that allows platforms to ignore kids and teens on their site;
  • Create an “Eraser Button” that allows for children and teens to delete their personal information; and
  • Establish data minimization rules to prohibit the excessive collection of children and teens’ data.

COPPA 2.0 is supported by more than 100 organizations, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, American Federation of Teachers, American Psychological Association, Center for Digital Democracy, Common Sense Media, Design It For Us, Eating Disorders Coalition for Research, Policy, & Action, Fairplay, National Education Association, National Parent Teacher Association, and U.S. PIRG.

In April 2024, Representative Tim Walberg (MI-05) and Representative Kathy Castor (FL-14) introduced the House companion to COPPA 2.0. In February 2024, Senators Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) and Ted Cruz (R-Texas), the Chair and Ranking Member of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, agreed to cosponsor COPPA 2.0. In July 2023, the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee unanimously passed COPPA 2.0.

###