Meta Platforms is pressing lawmakers to include legal protections for social media companies in the Kids Online Safety Act, a move that has intensified a broader battle in Washington over whether technology firms should face greater accountability as Congress seeks stronger protections for children online.
The debate centers on KOSA, a bipartisan bill backed by lawmakers including Senator Marsha Blackburn and Senator Richard Blumenthal. While the legislation would impose new obligations on social media platforms to protect minors from online harms, proposed language reviewed by Reuters suggests Meta is seeking protections that could limit future legal claims tied to child safety and privacy.
The proposal arrives as Meta and other technology companies face mounting legal pressure from parents, school districts and young users who argue that social media products contributed to mental health problems, addictive behavior and other harms among children and teenagers.
According to Reuters, proposed legislative language would provide online platforms with immunity from certain state-law claims involving the online safety and privacy of users under 18. The provision has alarmed consumer advocates and trial attorneys who view litigation as one of the few remaining tools available to scrutinize platform design decisions.
Julia Duncan of the American Association for Justice said the proposal could have sweeping consequences for existing and future cases.
"The language is pretty clear-cut immunity against every parent, every school district, that is seeking to hold any AI or social media company accountable for harm" to children, Duncan said. "There is no other way to read this language."
The dispute comes at a pivotal moment for the technology industry. KOSA would require platforms to take reasonable measures to protect minors from harms linked to social media use, including features critics say are designed to maximize engagement.
Among the tools expected to face scrutiny under the legislation are:
- Infinite scrolling features
- Activity notifications and alerts
- Appearance-altering photo filters
• Product designs that may encourage compulsive use
Supporters of the legislation argue that these features can contribute to excessive screen time and unhealthy online behaviors among young users. Critics of the industry contend that companies have long understood the potential risks while continuing to prioritize user growth and engagement.
Meta has rejected claims that it is seeking blanket immunity. Stephanie Otway, a spokesperson for the company, said the proposal is intended to establish consistent federal standards rather than eliminate accountability.
"Instead, it establishes uniform national standards for online youth safety, ensuring these critical issues are governed by comprehensive federal legislation, not plaintiffs' lawyers or patchwork state legislation," Otway said.
The argument reflects a longstanding position among major technology firms, which have frequently advocated for federal rules that would preempt a growing number of state-level regulations. Industry leaders argue that a patchwork of laws creates uncertainty and increases compliance costs.
The political stakes surrounding KOSA remain high. The legislation passed the Senate by a 91-3 vote in 2024 before stalling in the House of Representatives. It returned this year with support from Senate Majority Leader John Thune and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, signaling continued bipartisan interest in advancing online safety measures.
At the same time, negotiations have become more complicated as lawmakers consider broader technology legislation, including proposals related to artificial intelligence and digital platform regulation. According to Reuters, Meta's proposed liability provision was introduced as part of discussions surrounding its position on KOSA.
Notably, Blackburn's office moved quickly to distance itself from the language.
"We have not seen that proposed language and would never consider it," a spokesperson for the senator said.
