US House approves Kids Internet and Digital Safety Act

The U.S. House of Representatives passed the bipartisan Kids Internet and Digital Safety (KIDS) Act on June 29, 2026 with a 267‑117 vote and 47 members abstaining. The package combines elements of 14 separate digital‑safety bills and aims to protect minors online.

Key provisions include mandatory age verification for pornographic sites, requirements that AI chatbots disclose they are not human, restrictions on disappearing messages for minors, new default privacy settings, parental‑control tools, and limits on targeted advertising to children. The bill also calls for platforms to create default settings that curb addictive design features.

The House version drops the Senate‑backed “duty of care” requirement that would have forced platforms to take proactive steps to prevent harms such as self‑harm, eating disorders, or substance abuse. Critics, including the Electronic Frontier Foundation, warn that the age‑verification scheme could become a “giant censorship machine” that erodes privacy and free expression for all users. Senators have signaled that the measure will face further debate in the Senate, where a different version of the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) remains under consideration.

Supporters state, “This is a major step toward a safer online world for kids, making safety the default, giving parents more tools to protect their children and teens, and holding Big Tech accountable,” according to the House Energy and Commerce Committee.