On June 18, Reuters reported that Meta is pushing to include language in the Child Online Safety Act (KOSA) currently under discussion in the Senate that would limit platform companies' liability in lawsuits involving harm to children. KOSA is designed to reduce harmful features for minors in online services and strengthen child protection measures.
The legislative proposal confirmed by Reuters includes a provision that would exempt companies from liability under state laws for damages related to the safety or privacy of users under 18. This change could impact thousands of ongoing lawsuits against major companies like Meta and YouTube concerning child harm, according to Reuters.
Sources indicate that while Meta initially opposed KOSA, the company has signaled it may withdraw its opposition if the proposed language is included. A spokesperson stated, "This does not mean we are seeking to eliminate existing lawsuits or be exempt from all liability; rather, we aim to establish national standards for youth online safety."
However, the American Association for Justice, a group of plaintiff attorneys, believes this provision could serve as a broad immunity shield. The organization expressed concern that if the bill is enacted with this language, ongoing related lawsuits could be halted or dismissed.
Meta is currently facing numerous lawsuits regarding issues such as social media addiction among children and adolescents, mental health deterioration, and privacy concerns. In March, a Los Angeles jury found that Meta and Google were negligent in designing services harmful to young users, ordering the companies to pay a total of $6 million, with Meta responsible for $4.2 million and Google for $1.8 million.
However, the likelihood of Meta's proposed provision being included in the final bill appears low. Senator Marsha Blackburn, one of the primary sponsors of KOSA, told Reuters, "I have not seen this language, nor will I review it."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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