Statement on the Reintroduction of COPPA 2.0
SAN FRANCISCO, May 3, 2023— Today, Senators Ed Markey (D-MA) and Bill Cassidy (R-LA) reintroduced the bipartisan Children and Teens' Online Privacy and Protection Act (COPPA 2.0), legislation that will update Senator Markey's 1998 law, the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act. James P. Steyer, founder and CEO of Common Sense Media, issued the following statement in support of the newly introduced bill.
"Kids' privacy is more important than ever. For far too long, social media companies have amassed troves of young users' private information that they then use to bombard their feeds with targeted ads and harmful content. It's time to prioritize kids' mental health and well-being by protecting their private data and online experiences.
"We strongly support the reintroduction of this bipartisan bill to strengthen the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act. COPPA 2.0 improves the federal children's online privacy law that Congress passed 25 years ago, well before YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok became a part of kids' everyday lives. These new protections, which include a ban on targeted advertising to kids and teens, are long overdue and necessary to provide young users with the safeguards they need on the internet as it exists today.
"We commend Senators Markey and Cassidy for their work on behalf of kids and families, and urge Congress to act right away to take up this bill and other legislation to establish guardrails that will reduce online harms to kids and teens."
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About Common Sense
Common Sense is the nation's leading nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of kids and families by providing the trustworthy information, education, and independent voice they need to thrive in the 21st century. Learn more at commonsense.org.
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