US KIDS Act Raises Concerns Over Privacy Surveillance Under the Guise of Child Protection

On June 29, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the "Kids Internet and Digital Safety (KIDS) Act" with a vote of 267 in favor and 117 against. This legislation is based on the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) and is currently awaiting Senate review. However, the bill could effectively operate as a mandate for age verification. Platforms may be legally required to take responsibility for harm to minors, pressuring companies to verify user ages. This could lead to an expansion of data collection, resulting in companies building vast repositories of identity data. Experts emphasize that there are technically better alternatives and suggest models like Utah's "State-Verified Digital Identity (SEDI)" law. While the KIDS Act aims to protect children, it raises concerns about increasing data collection and storage, potentially expanding a "digital surveillance infrastructure." Experts argue for minimal data collection and the introduction of privacy-protecting verification methods, stressing the need to build trust without unnecessary information disclosure while protecting children.