WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee is holding an Executive Session markup to consider five kids’ online safety and artificial intelligence bills. The proposals would hand federal bureaucrats sweeping new authority over what Americans can see, say, and access online — while doing little to address the actual sources of harm to young people.

The Senate Commerce Committee marked up five children’s online safety bills on Aug. 5, unanimously advancing the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA). The markup came five weeks after the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Kids Internet and Digital Safety (KIDS) Act on June 29 by a 267-117 vote, marking the first time any version of the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) has cleared the chamber.

The Consumer Choice Center is an independent, non-partisan consumer advocacy group championing the benefits of freedom of choice, innovation, and abundance in everyday life. We champion smart policies that are fit for growth, promote lifestyle choice, and defend technological innovation.

As of March 2026, every U.S. state had introduced at least one bill seeking to regulate social media or other digital platforms for people younger than 18. The wave of legislation would be difficult for anyone to keep track of, whether they're a researcher, parent or policymaker. Researchers at the University of California, Davis, have built a public database to help.

Washington. – The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals will hear arguments Tuesday (Aug. 4th) on whether Texas can enforce its “App Store Accountability Act” (ASAA) while the case makes its way through the legal system. The law requires anyone in Texas to show government ID or other proof of age before downloading apps. It also requires parental consent for minors to download apps and app content, and compels speech in the form of age-ratings for content.

On July 12th,, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen issued a statement calling for a European Union (EU) wide identity verification system for all social media users. Like many infringements on liberty and privacy, the proposal to force EU residents to verify their identity is being implemented in order to protect the children. The mandatory verification system is necessary to enforce, “age-appropriate restrictions to platforms.”

Kansas parents face a real challenge: helping children navigate a digital world filled with opportunity and serious risks. Kids deserve protection from predators, explicit content, addictive features, and scams. Parents deserve better tools. The question is how to help without creating something akin to a new digital ID system for everyone.

Age verification laws have moved beyond social media and porn. Three US states have passed laws requiring your operating system to collect your age, and Congress is discussing the same at the federal level. One day soon, verification requirements could require you to upload a photo ID to prove you're a legal adult before you can use your computer.

As online safety debates intensify in Congress and across state legislatures, policymakers are increasingly grappling with how to balance privacy, personalization, and the protection of children online. Against this backdrop, the IAPP hosted its Global Privacy Summit 2026, an annual gathering of privacy and AI professionals focused on policy developments and the legal and regulatory implications of emerging technologies.