Maneesha Mithal’s Post

Earlier this month, the New York legislature passed the Stop Addictive Feeds Exploitation (SAFE) for Kids Act (SAFE Act ) and the New York Child Data Protection Act (CDPA), both aimed at protecting children online. Learn more about the SAFE Act and CDPA, which would create new, onerous requirements for entities doing business in New York, and key provisions for each, from our authors Maneesha Mithal, Christopher Olsen & Boniface L. Echols Jr.: https://lnkd.in/g99vGURU 

Have you had a chance to read our child privacy and safety principles? As we continue our mission, we've adopted strong principles to help us: ✅ Keep Kids Safe ✅ Keep Platforms Accountable ✅ Keep Congress on Track to Pass Effective Legislation Learn more by visiting our website!

If you think the internet can be harmful and dangerous as well as positive for something’s— Great news from our friends @commonsensemedia… “We have some major news to share. Just moments ago, two bills that have the power to protect kids passed out of a key committee in Congress. The Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) —if passed into law— will require social media companies to take action when their platforms are hurting kids and teens, like when their algorithms direct users to harmful content promoting disordered eating, self-harm, and bullying. And the Children and Teens Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA 2.0) will strengthen privacy protections for children and teens by limiting the amount of data companies can collect from them and banning ads targeted at minors. These bills would fundamentally improve our kids’ online experiences. As they make their way through Congress, we are getting more and more support from key stakeholders.”

Momentum. The following initiatives have moved through a key phase of becoming law in the US. The Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) will require social media companies to take action when their platforms harm young people. It includes the design and coding elements that feed content to children and young people that can harm such as extremist content, bullying, self-harm, etc. Additionally, the Children and Teens Online Privacy Protection Act [COPPA] will also go further in protecting the data of young people when they engage online, restricting the nature of collected data and preventing ads targeted at young people. Protections required from the platform developers [aka big businesses] are critical for our future generations. We've had a generation that have been left to find their own way online, and have been taken advantage of for too long. However, we risk inequity globally when initiatives are only able to be introduced and enforced by nations and unions that have the capacity and funding to hold social media platforms to account. Safety and what's ethically right are not at the fore of these platforms (Stolen Focus - Chpt 6 and 7, The Rise of Technology that can track and manipulate you. Johann Hari). #safetybydesign #childprotection #safeenvironment

Check out my new article in Policy Options, the digital magazine of the Institute for Research on Public Policy (IRPP)! I discuss why proposed online child safety regulations should drop age-assurance requirements in favor of privacy, a core democratic principle. #OnlineSafety #PrivacyMatters https://lnkd.in/gHnBmPjJ

In a career dedicated to safeguarding the vulnerable, moments like today with the introduction of the Kids Online Safety Act (KOSA) in the U.S. House of Representatives are significant steps forward 🚀. As a former child exploitation detective 🕵️♂️, I've witnessed firsthand the shadows that can linger on the internet, places where innocence is threatened and the need for protection is paramount 🛡️. KOSA represents a much-needed step forward 🌈 in our collective mission to shield our children from online harms. It’s a testament to what we can achieve when we prioritize the safety and well-being of our youngest digital citizens 👨👩👧👦. This legislation, rooted in a commitment to duty of care and transparency, aligns closely with the lessons I've learned on the front lines. It embodies the protective shield our children deserve as they navigate the complexities of the online world 🌐. Yet, as we celebrate this legislative milestone, let us also acknowledge the journey ahead 🛤️. The introduction of KOSA is the beginning, not the end, of our efforts to create a safer digital environment. The nuances of online safety and child protection require us to continually evolve our strategies, listening to the voices of those we aim to protect and adapting to the ever-changing digital landscape 🔄. I call upon my network, colleagues, and fellow advocates to not only support KOSA but also to engage in the ongoing dialogue about the work that remains 💬. Together, we can build upon this foundation, ensuring that our digital future is one where every child can explore, learn, and grow free from harm 🚸. As we move forward, let's remember that our commitment to the safety of our children must be unwavering ❤️. The task ahead is significant, but so too is our resolve 💪. I invite you to join me in this vital endeavor, for the well-being of our children today will shape the world of tomorrow 🌍. #KidsOnlineSafetyAct #KOSA #OnlineSafety #ChildProtection #DigitalWellbeing https://lnkd.in/ePHM997u

Franky Paull has published "Top Tips for 2024: Kid’s Privacy and Online Safety" including a helpful summary to ensure compliance with the Age Appropriate Design Code (aka the Children’s Code). #privacy #childrenscode

Legislative and regulatory initiatives to protect children’s online experiences are globally flourishing. From data protection to online safety, service providers and platforms face an array of sometimes competing requirements. On Thursday 16th November, CIPL Director of Privacy and Data Policy, Natascha Gerlach CIPP/E will be at the IAPP Europe Data Protection Congress to moderate a discussion on Children Online: Reconciling the Rules alongside James Brunger (Snap Inc.), Elizabeth Denham CBE (5Rights), Caroline Goulding (TikTok), Renato Leite Monteiro (X) and Paul Tang (European Parliament). The panel brings together platforms and children’s rights advocates to discuss the diverse online landscape, and how to cooperate to create an online environment in the best interests of the child. Panelists will cover: - How to reconcile the requirements from a growing array of laws to protect children online. - How to identify and deliver to the best interests of the child online. #childrensprivacy #data #regulation

ACCOUNTABLE PLATFORMS - Platforms must do their part to ensure children and teens are kept safe online. This can look like: - Requiring risk-based assessments - Empowering government authorities for effective enforcement - Advancing consistent rules across the country These principles and more can be viewed here!