US Congress Proposes Sweeping Child Online Protection Legislation, Paves Way For Digital ID Infrastructure

The following report is by Reclaim The Net:

But the fear is that the bills introduced now – H.R.7891, the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA), and H.R. 7890, the Children and Teens Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) 2.0 – will facilitate implementation of a future sweeping age verification and digital ID push.

These concerns are raised because KOSA is directing the secretary of commerce, together with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to conduct a study “evaluating the most technologically feasible methods and options for developing systems to verify age at the device or operating system level.”

At this stage of the proceedings, the study will not be used to mandate that platforms implement “an age gating or age verification functionality” – however, once the authorities have at their disposal the technical solutions to do it, some observers expect it could be used for a more aggressive legislative push at the federal level later on.

The key difference between the existing Senate version of KOSA and the proposed House bill is found under the “care of duty” component, with the House text now defining that to apply to “high impact online companies” with $2.5 billion or more annual revenue, and 150+ million global monthly active users over at least three months of the preceding year.

The Senate version refers to platforms “reasonably likely to be used by a minor” (employing 500 or more people, with gross annual revenue of $50 million or more).

Regarding the way COPPA’s new version could pave the way for more expansive age verification online, it seeks to impose new forms of data collection restrictions concerning minors, and also shield them from targeted advertising.

But for that to be achieved, platforms will have to find a way to verify users’ age. At the same time, COPPA 2.0 states that the bill will not require platforms to “implement an age gating or age verification functionality.”

The bills were introduced by Representative Kathy Castor as a “landmark” regarding the protection of data privacy. Castor at the same time accused apps and platforms of “exploiting our kids and causing harm” and Big Tech of resorting to “manipulative and dark practices” – but did not specifically address the issue of age verification while announcing the bills.

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AUTHOR COMMENTARY

In March Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed a law that bans children and teens from having social media, and if they are allowed to they have to go through a new registration. The bill effectually establishes a digital ID framework.

As I have noted many times before, digital IDs are needed to facilitate the CBDCs, and so these bills are helping to lay the groundwork for it. SEE: Must Read: Top Economist And Professor Reveals That Central Banks Want To Microchip People So They Can Administer CBDCs

When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn.

Proverbs 29:2

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[7] Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges? who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock? [8] Say I these things as a man? or saith not the law the same also? [9] For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen? [10] Or saith he it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he that ploweth should plow in hope; and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope. (1 Corinthians 9:7-10).

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