Meta settlement spurs calls for federal online safety laws

Following a landmark multistate settlement with Meta, advocates are calling on the U.S. Congress to pass federal online safety legislation. The settlement, which includes millions of dollars for states like Connecticut, aims to address social media harms and mandate specific guardrails for platforms including Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp.

Tammy Rodriguez, an advocate for child online protections, is pushing for the passage of the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA). While the Senate version of the bill, co-authored by Senators Richard Blumenthal and Marsha Blackburn, passed the Senate in 2024, it has faced legislative hurdles. Advocates argue that federal law is necessary to ensure across-the-board compliance, noting that companies often only implement safety measures when legally compelled.