Following the House Energy and Commerce Committee's markup of the American Privacy Rights Act (APRA) and Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA), the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF) has expressed concerns over significant flaws in both bills.
Ashley Johnson, Senior Policy Manager at ITIF, stated, "Congress is rightly prioritizing data privacy and children’s online safety, but APRA and KOSA still contain serious flaws that would negatively impact Americans."
Johnson noted that while APRA aims to establish a national standard by preempting state laws, it includes a costly private right of action provision. This provision could expose companies to numerous lawsuits. Regarding KOSA, she highlighted its intent to protect minors from harmful content on social media platforms but warned it might lead to excessive censorship affecting all users' freedom of speech.
"Privacy and children’s online safety legislation that strikes the right balance is exactly what this country needs before even more states add to the growing patchwork of legislation," Johnson said. She emphasized that APRA and KOSA require substantial revisions to safeguard consumers without infringing on free speech or imposing burdensome costs on businesses that could hinder innovation.
For further information, contact Nicole Hinojosa at [email protected].
