Hawaii AG Joins 45 States in Push for Federal Youth Online Safety Law
A bipartisan coalition of state attorneys general urged Congress to pass the Senate version of the Kids Online Safety Act following a major settlement with Meta.
By Camila Herrera ·
State legal leaders are asking Congress to codify online safety rules for young users. Hawaii Attorney General Anne Lopez recently sent a letter to congressional leadership to support this effort.
Lopez joined 44 other state attorneys general in urging lawmakers to pass Senate Bill 1748. The bill would create federal safety standards for social media and gaming platforms. It also allows states to keep their own child safety laws.
The group includes officials from Ohio, Tennessee, and Connecticut, who co-led the initiative. Representatives from 41 other states and U.S. territories also signed the document. The coalition spans both major political parties.
This push follows a $17 billion multistate settlement with Meta. The agreement requires new safeguards for Facebook and Instagram users under 18. These measures include daily time limits, nighttime restrictions, and stronger parental controls.
The letter argues that the Meta deal is not enough. It states that safeguards in the settlement should be seen as evidence that more action is needed. A deal with one company cannot create consistent protections across the whole industry.
The signatories told Congress that it must act now. They want to ensure children receive protections on all online platforms. They also called for a foundation to handle future risks from new AI products.
