Central Louisiana News

U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) has expressed approval following the U.S. Senate's passage of his Children and Teens’ Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA 2.0) and the Kids Online Safety Act. The legislation received substantial support in the Senate.

"The internet is an integral part of children’s lives today. It is time our laws reflect this new reality," said Dr. Cassidy. "These bills provide parents the tools to safeguard their kids online. I am proud to have authored COPPA 2.0, joined my colleagues in cosponsoring the Kids Online Safety Act, and getting these important bills across the finish line in the Senate. This will make a difference."

Cassidy, along with U.S. Senator Edward Markey (D-MA), reintroduced COPPA 2.0 to update online data privacy rules for modern times, ensuring protection for children and teenagers online. The act aims to modernize and strengthen the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), originally passed by Congress in 1998 to establish basic privacy protections for users under age 13, including notice and parental consent requirements.

COPPA 2.0 has garnered support from over 100 organizations such as the American Academy of Pediatrics, American Federation of Teachers, American Psychological Association, Center for Digital Democracy, Common Sense Media, Design It For Us, Eating Disorders Coalition for Research, Policy & Action, Fairplay, National Education Association, National Parent Teacher Association, and U.S. PIRG.

Additionally, Cassidy is an original cosponsor of the Kids Online Safety Act—a comprehensive bipartisan effort aimed at protecting children online and holding Big Tech accountable. In February 2024, it was announced that over 60 senators had joined in cosponsoring this legislation.