Congress Set to Vote on KIDS Act Requiring Under-17 Age Checks as Privacy Fears Mount
Updated
Updated · EFF · Jun 25
Congress Set to Vote on KIDS Act Requiring Under-17 Age Checks as Privacy Fears Mount
3 articles · Updated · EFF · Jun 25
Summary
Within a week, Congress is expected to vote on the KIDS Act, a bundled internet package that would push platforms to identify users under 17, police certain content and change private-messaging features.
The pressure comes from repeated standards such as whether a service “knows or should have known” a user is a child or teen, creating liability that critics say will drive broad age verification despite disclaimers.
Platforms could respond by demanding IDs, using facial age-estimation tools or restricting access across entire services, with smaller companies facing the highest legal risk and error-prone systems raising bias concerns.
The package also reaches lawful speech and encrypted communications, requiring policies on topics like drugs, gambling and alcohol while leaving providers to reconcile child-safety duties with unreadable private messages.
Critics say the combined effect would extend beyond minors, making adults prove they are adults and leaving the broader internet less private and more tightly moderated.
Will the KIDS Act's vague content rules compel platforms to censor legal adult discussions, effectively shrinking the internet for everyone?
As the KIDS Act mandates age checks, how will it prevent our private ID data from creating a new system of mass surveillance?
The UK's similar 2023 law has been active for years. What are its real-world impacts on privacy and free speech for Britons?
KIDS Act Passes House with 267-117 Vote: Major Step Toward Federal Online Safety Standards for Minors
Overview
On June 29, 2026, the House of Representatives passed the Kids Internet and Digital Safety (KIDS) Act, marking a major milestone in efforts to protect children and teenagers online. The Act aims to create a safer digital environment by addressing urgent concerns about privacy and mental well-being, with strong bipartisan support highlighting the need for immediate action. Over 90 percent of parents want stronger privacy rules for teens, reflecting widespread demand for better safeguards. The KIDS Act is seen as a long-overdue step to hold bad actors accountable and make the internet a safer place for young people.