Meta seeks Congress protection from child-harm lawsuits

The proposed legislative language, which Reuters has reviewed, suggests that online companies could be granted immunity from liability under state law for claims related to children's online safety and privacy. This provision, if incorporated into the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) currently under consideration in the U.S. Senate, could significantly impact the thousands of lawsuits pending against Meta and other platforms.

Meta and Google's YouTube have already faced a combined $6 million in damages after losing an initial trial this year. The lobbying effort highlights the extent of Meta's pursuit of legal protections amidst a significant push to regulate online platforms in the U.S.

Sources indicate that Meta has proposed this language in exchange for dropping its opposition to KOSA. The bill, sponsored by Senators Marsha Blackburn and Richard Blumenthal, aims to compel social media companies to take reasonable measures to prevent specific harms to minors, including issues related to compulsive platform use. KOSA would mandate that companies exercise caution when implementing features such as infinite scrolling, activity notifications, and photo filters that alter appearance.