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Acting AG Davenport Urges Congress to Pass Kids Online Safety Act and Protect Children Online
TRENTON – Acting Attorney General Jennifer Davenport announced today that she has joined together with a bipartisan coalition of attorneys general from around the country in urging Congressional leadership to protect children from online harm and pass the Senate version of the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA), S.1748.
The letter, signed by 40 attorneys general, emphasizes the urgency of Congressional action as scrutiny of social media companies intensifies and evidence mounts regarding the harmful impact of addictive design features on children and teens.
The letter underscores Acting Attorney General Davenport’s commitment to protecting children in online spaces. The New Jersey Office of the Attorney General has been a national leader in the fight to protect kids online, including bringing enforcement actions against tech giants that target children, like Meta, TikTok, and Discord.
“Big Tech has made billions profiting off addictive features and algorithms that have severe negative mental health consequences for our children. They have hooked an entire generation of kids onto apps that lack basic privacy and safety safeguards, turning what were once promised as platforms for building friendships and staying connected into systems that profit from harm. As a parent, that is unacceptable,” said Governor Mikie Sherrill. “As Governor, it is my job to protect the children of our state from online harm and exploitation. I urge Congress to take swift action to better protect our kids online in a way that supports states, because New Jersey will continue to hold anyone who threatens the well-being of our kids accountable.”
“As a mom, I understand the grip that social media platforms hold over our children. And as New Jersey’s chief law enforcement officer, I am horrified by how the actions of some of our largest tech companies have left kids vulnerable to predators, excessive usage, and more,” said Acting Attorney General Davenport. “There is no excuse: Congress must take immediate action to protect our kids online, and it must do so in a way that preserves the authority of states to take action too. I am committed to doing everything in my power to lead the fight for our kids using every tool we’ve got.”
The letter also raises concern about the House version of KOSA, H.R. 6484, which would preempt states’ laws that protect kids online. The letter warns that the House version removes the Duty of Care provision in S. 1748, which requires companies to take reasonable steps to prevent harm. The Senate version of KOSA does not impede on states’ pioneering work to protect kids online, and it goes further to ensure that companies are not subjecting children to harm.
States and territories joining New Jersey in sending the letter to Congressional leadership include Connecticut, Hawaii, Ohio, and Tennessee, which sponsored the letter, as well as American Samoa, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Delaware, District of Columbia, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, U.S. Virgin Islands, and Wyoming
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