SPY Kids Act
House Bill Would Bar Social Media Platforms from Researching Kids Under 13
Stalled
No legislative action in over 90 days.
Legislative Progress
Key Points
- Social media-style platforms would be barred from doing product or marketing research on kids under 13 if they know the user is a kid.
- For teens ages 13–16, platforms could only do this kind of research if they first get clear, verified permission from a parent or legal guardian.
- The bill targets platforms that use engagement tricks like endless scrolling, auto-play, push alerts, and similar features, and that use personal info to target ads or recommendations.
- The Federal Trade Commission and state attorneys general could sue to stop violations and seek money back for harmed residents.
- States would be blocked from making their own different rules on this exact topic, so the federal rule would be the main standard nationwide.
Impact Analysis
Personal Impact
How this policy affects specific groups of people
Milestones
Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee in the Nature of a Substitute (Amended) by Voice Vote.
Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
Referred to the Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade.
Sent to a congressional committee for expert review. The committee decides whether this bill moves forward.
Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Introduced in House
The bill was officially filed and given a number. It now enters the legislative queue.
Votes
No votes have been recorded for this legislation yet.
Related News
3 articlesUS House Subcommittee Advances 18 Child Online Safety Bills
The House Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade advanced 18 bills, including H.R. 6273, the SPY Kids Act. The legislation targets 'engagement-driven' platforms that use features like infinite scroll and autoplay, barring them from conducting market research on children under 13.
House committee to mark up package of kids safety bills on Thursday
The House Energy and Commerce committee is set to mark up a slate of 18 kids' online safety proposals, including the SPY Kids Act. The package aims to address youth mental health and privacy concerns while navigating debates over federal preemption of state regulations.
A view from DC: Policymakers battle over knowledge standards
The U.S. House Committee on Energy and Commerce released a package of 19 proposals, including the SPY Kids Act. The article notes the bill's focus on stopping the profiling of youth and kids, amid broader debates over 'actual knowledge' versus 'willful disregard' standards for tech companies.
Source Information
Document Type
Congressional Bill
Official Title
SPY Kids Act
Data Sources
Sponsor
Analysis generated by AI. Always verify with official sources.