Republicans defy Donald Trump’s allies on social media crackdown
Elon Musk and Donald Trump Jr have been unable to convince Republicans to protect kids on social media, amid fears about the impact on free speech.
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Sweeping laws to protect kids online have hit a roadblock in the US, with House Republicans defying a push by some of Donald Trump’s closest allies to approve the crackdown this year.
Elon Musk’s X drafted last-minute changes to the Kids Online Safety Act in a bid to win over members of Congress who feared the crackdown would impinge on the right to free speech.
The world’s richest man – who has become one of the President-elect’s key confidantes – said in a post on his platform that “protecting kids should always be priority #1”, while Donald Trump Jr urged House Republicans “to pass the Kids Online Safety Act ASAP”.
“We can protect free speech and our kids at the same time from Big Tech,” Mr Trump Jr said.
But Speaker Mike Johnson, the Republican leader in the House of Representatives, said the reforms would instead be dealt with under the Trump administration next year, despite the Senate approving the legislation in a 91-3 vote and President Joe Biden vowing to sign it.
The Kids Online Safety Act represents a more limited step than Australia’s world-first bid to ban kids under the age of 16 from accessing social media, although it would still mark America’s most significant action to improve online safety in decades.
Under the laws, social media companies would face a legal duty to ensure their platforms did not fuel mental health problems, suicide, eating disorders, bullying and sexual exploitation.
Children and their parents would also be given access to new safety tools on social media, including opting out of personalised algorithms, disabling addictive features such as auto-playing videos and platform rewards, and limiting communication with adult users.
X chief executive Linda Yaccarino worked with the bill’s Senate co-sponsors – Republican Marsha Blackburn and Democrat Richard Blumenthal – on changes to “protect freedom of speech while maintaining safety for minors online”.
We can protect free speech and our kids at the same time from Big Tech. It's time for House Republicans to pass the Kids Online Safety Act ASAP. https://t.co/Glrq0eoD0K
— Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) December 8, 2024
“As I’ve always said, freedom of speech and safety can and must coexist,” she said.
“We urge Congress and the House to pass the Kids Online Safety Act this year.”
The senators praised Mr Musk and Ms Yaccarino for their “for their bold leadership and commitment to protecting children online and for helping us get this bill across the finish line this Congress”.
“These changes should eliminate once and for all the false narrative that this bill would be weaponised by unelected bureaucrats to censor Americans,” they said in a joint statement.
But Mr Johnson disappointed online safety advocates, saying that while he was “open to working on a solution that protects kids online while continuing to protect the free speech rights of all Americans”, it was “essential to get this issue right”.
“House Republicans look forward to working with the Trump Administration to get the right bill into law,” he said.
Mr Musk had criticised the Australian government’s social media laws as “a backdoor way to control access to the internet by all Australians.”
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Originally published as Republicans defy Donald Trump’s allies on social media crackdown
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