Central Montana Times

U.S. Senator Steve Daines today commended the passage of a bipartisan package designed to protect minors using online platforms, provide parental control tools, and establish disclosure requirements for potential harms faced by users. Daines co-introduced the “Kids Online Safety Act” and has been engaged in this issue since he first introduced the bipartisan “Safeguarding American Families from Exposure by Keeping Information and Data Secure (SAFE KIDS) Act” in 2015.

“As the father of four and grandfather of six, I’m glad to see the Senate pass my bill to ensure that our children’s privacy and safety is protected as technology and social media platforms rapidly evolve. We must put power back in the hands of parents and ensure they and their children have the tools they need to keep safe while online,” Daines said.

The “Kids Online Safety Act” mandates that online platforms enable the strongest privacy settings by default, obliges platforms to prevent and mitigate specific dangers to minors, provides parents and educators with new controls to help protect children, and requires independent audits and research into social media companies.

Daines first introduced the “SAFE KIDS Act” in 2015, emphasizing its importance on the Senate floor in 2018.