A bipartisan coalition of 45 attorneys general, including California Attorney General Rob Bonta, has reaffirmed its support for the Senate version of the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA), S. 1748. The announcement, issued from Oakland, says the Senate bill allows states to continue their work to protect children. For parents and privacy-minded readers, the Kids Online Safety Act privacy question matters as much as the child safety goals: how would protecting kids online affect the personal data families share?
This post sticks to what the announcement says and flags where the details are still worth reading for yourself.
What the Attorneys General Are Backing in S. 1748
The announcement is short. It says Bonta joined a bipartisan group of 45 attorneys general in reaffirming support for the Senate's KOSA, S. 1748. The stated reason is that the Senate bill lets states keep doing critical work to protect children.
That framing is the key detail. Child online safety is a policy area where states and the federal government can both act. The coalition's emphasis on the "Senate version" suggests the form of the federal legislation matters to them, particularly whether it leaves room for state-level enforcement and action instead of displacing it. The announcement does not list the bill's individual provisions, so readers who want specifics should consult the text of S. 1748 directly.
The breadth of the coalition is also notable. A group of 45 attorneys general spanning party lines is a strong signal that child safety online is one of the few areas drawing broad agreement among state officials.
What KOSA Would Require of Platforms
The attorneys general's announcement does not detail platform requirements, and we will not guess at them. What can be said is that KOSA is a bill aimed at online platforms and how they treat younger users, and that the Senate version has been a distinct focus of this coalition.
When reading the bill text, a few questions are useful:
- Which platforms are covered, and how is a "covered platform" defined?
- What duties does the bill place on those platforms with respect to minors?
- Who enforces it, and what role do state attorneys general play?
- What does the bill say about the data platforms must collect or may not collect?
The last question connects directly to privacy. A law meant to protect children can reduce data exposure, but it can also create new reasons for platforms to gather information about who their users are.
Age Verification and Data Collection: The Privacy Debate
This is where the Kids Online Safety Act privacy discussion gets contested. Some advocacy groups argue that KOSA-style approaches could jeopardize internet privacy if they push users to provide personal information to prove who they are or how old they are. Supporters counter that stronger protections for minors are overdue and that states need the ability to enforce them.
Both concerns are legitimate. Any system that tries to distinguish younger users from adults raises design questions: what data is collected, how long it is kept, who can access it, and whether it could be repurposed. Those questions matter more given broader worries about how personal data flows into government hands. Bonta has also been involved in a separate effort calling on Congress to end federal agencies purchasing commercial data, which we covered in our overview of government mass surveillance. The two issues are different, but they share a theme: the more personal data exists, the more important it is to know who holds it.
What This Means For You
Nothing in this announcement changes your obligations or settings today. S. 1748 is a bill, and the announcement is a statement of support, not a new rule. Still, there are practical takeaways:
- Legislation will take time. Even a popular, bipartisan bill has to move through the legislative process before any platform requirements apply.
- Watch the details on data. Child safety and privacy can pull in different directions. The final text and its handling of data collection will determine which way the balance tips.
- State action may continue. The coalition's focus on preserving state authority suggests attorneys general intend to stay active in this area.
Privacy Steps Parents Can Take Today
Families do not need to wait for Congress. Consider these steps:
- Audit your child's accounts. List the apps, games, and social platforms they use, and delete accounts that are no longer needed.
- Review privacy and safety settings. Check who can contact your child, who can see their posts, and whether location sharing is on.
- Limit the personal data you share. Use the minimum information required at sign-up, and avoid linking accounts when possible.
- Talk about it. Explain to kids why details like their school, address, and birthday should be shared sparingly.
- Keep devices updated and use strong, unique passwords. A password manager and two-factor authentication reduce account takeover risk.
- Understand the wider data picture. Our piece on government data collection explains how personal information is gathered and used beyond the apps themselves.
The Bottom Line
Forty-five attorneys general agreeing on anything is notable, and their backing of S. 1748 shows how seriously state officials take child safety online. Whether the bill ultimately strengthens or strains family privacy will depend on its text and how it is implemented. The Kids Online Safety Act privacy debate is worth following, but your family's exposure is something you can reduce right now. Review your privacy settings and the data your accounts hold this week, and revisit them as the legislation develops.
