House panel marks up kids digital safety act amid Democrat backlash

The House Energy and Commerce Committee advanced the Kids Internet and Digital Safety (KIDS) Act and related measures along party lines, prompting Democratic criticism that the bill weakens protections for children by allowing companies to claim ignorance of underage users, omitting a duty of care, and preempting stronger state laws; supporters say the package empowers parents and requires defaults like turning off recommendation algorithms for minors, while the committee also marked up Sammy’s Law and the App Store Accountability Act and tabled the Children and Teens’ Online Privacy Protection Act for future consideration.