Senate Unanimously Passes COPPA 2.0 to Expand Online Privacy Protections for Minors

46% of U.S. teens ages 13–17 report being online "almost constantly," up from 24% in 2014–15

CBO estimates the bill would generate $164 million in penalty revenue over 10 years, while costing the government $16 million to implement

The Senate passed COPPA 2.0 by unanimous consent in March 2026; a prior version passed 91–3 in July 2024 but died in the House

15 states have enacted their own children's data protection laws; the Senate and House versions differ sharply on whether to override them

The FTC has averaged roughly $50 million per year in COPPA penalties over the past decade, including a record $520 million fine against Epic Games in 2022