[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 7891 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
118th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 7891
To protect the safety of children on the internet.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
April 9, 2024
Mr. Bilirakis (for himself, Ms. Castor of Florida, Mrs. Houchin, Ms.
Schrier, and Mr. Bucshon) introduced the following bill; which was
referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to
the Committee on Education and the Workforce, for a period to be
subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration
of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee
concerned
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To protect the safety of children on the internet.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS.
(a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Kids Online Safety
Act''.
(b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents for this Act is as
follows:
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents.
TITLE I--KIDS ONLINE SAFETY
Sec. 101. Definitions.
Sec. 102. Duty of care.
Sec. 103. Safeguards for minors.
Sec. 104. Disclosure.
Sec. 105. Transparency.
Sec. 106. Research on social media and minors.
Sec. 107. Market research.
Sec. 108. Age verification study and report.
Sec. 109. Guidance.
Sec. 110. Enforcement.
Sec. 111. Kids Online Safety Council.
Sec. 112. Effective date.
Sec. 113. Rules of construction and other matters.
Sec. 114. Severability.
TITLE II--FILTER BUBBLE TRANSPARENCY
Sec. 201. Definitions.
Sec. 202. Requirement to allow users to see unmanipulated content on
internet platforms.
Sec. 203. Severability.
TITLE III--RELATIONSHIP TO STATE LAWS
Sec. 301. Relationship to State laws.
TITLE I--KIDS ONLINE SAFETY
SEC. 101. DEFINITIONS.
In this title:
(1) Child.--The term ``child'' means an individual who is
under the age of 13.
(2) Compulsive usage.--The term ``compulsive usage'' means
any response stimulated by external factors that causes an
individual to engage in repetitive behavior reasonably likely
to cause a mental health disorder.
(3) Covered platform.--
(A) In general.--The term ``covered platform''
means an online platform, online video game, messaging
application, or video streaming service that connects
to the internet and that is used, or is reasonably
likely to be used, by a minor.
(B) Exceptions.--The term ``covered platform'' does
not include--
(i) an entity acting in its capacity as a
provider of--
(I) a common carrier service
subject to the Communications Act of
1934 (47 U.S.C. 151 et seq.) and all
Acts amendatory thereof and
supplementary thereto;
(II) a broadband internet access
service (as such term is defined for
purposes of section 8.1(b) of title 47,
Code of Federal Regulations, or any
successor regulation);
(III) an email service;
(IV) a teleconferencing or video
conferencing service that allows
reception and transmission of audio or
video signals for real-time
communication, provided that--
(aa) the service is not an
online platform, including a
social media service or social
network; and
(bb) the real-time
communication is initiated by
using a unique link or
identifier to facilitate
access; or
(V) a wireless messaging service,
including such a service provided
through short messaging service or
multimedia messaging service protocols,
that is not a component of, or linked
to, an online platform and where the
predominant or exclusive function is
direct messaging consisting of the
transmission of text, photos or videos
that are sent by electronic means,
where messages are transmitted from the
sender to a recipient, and are not
posted within an online platform or
publicly;
(ii) an organization not organized to carry
on business for its own profit or that of its
members;
(iii) any public or private preschool,
elementary, or secondary school, or any
institution of vocational, professional, or
higher education;
(iv) a library (as defined in section
213(1) of the Library Services and Technology
Act (20 U.S.C. 9122(1)));
(v) a news or sports news and coverage
website or app where--
(I) the inclusion of video content
on the website or app is related to the
website or app's own gathering,
reporting, or publishing of news
content or sports news and coverage;
and
(II) the website or app is not
otherwise an online platform;
(vi) a product or service that primarily
functions as business-to-business software, a
cloud storage, file sharing, or file
collaboration service, provided that the
product or service is not an online platform;
or
(vii) a virtual private network or similar
service that exists solely to route internet
traffic between locations.
(4) Design feature.--The term ``design feature'' means any
feature or component of a covered platform that will encourage
or increase the frequency, time spent, or activity of minors on
the covered platform. Design features include, but are not
limited to--
(A) infinite scrolling or auto play;
(B) rewards for time spent on the platform;
(C) notifications;
(D) push alerts that urge a user to spend more time
engaged with the platform when they are not actively
using it;
(E) badges or other visual award symbols based on
elevated levels of engagement with the platform;
(F) personalized recommendation systems;
(G) in-game purchases; or
(H) appearance altering filters.
(5) High impact online company.--The term ``high impact
online company'' means an online platform or online video game
that provides any internet-accessible platform where--
(A) such online platform or online video game
generates $2,500,000,000 or more in annual revenue,
including the revenue generated by any affiliate of
such covered platform; or
(B) such online platform or online video game has
150,000,000 or more global monthly active users for not
fewer than 3 of the preceding 12 months on the online
product or service of such covered platform; and
(C) such online platform or online video game
constitutes an online product or service that is
primarily used by users to access or share, user-
generated content.
(6) Know; knows.--The term ``know'' or ``knows'' means--
(A) with respect to a high impact online company,
the platform knew or should have known the individual
was a child or minor;
(B) with respect to a covered platform that had an
annual gross revenue of $200,000,000 or more, collects
the personal information of 200,000 individuals or
more, and does not meet the qualifications of
subparagraph (A), that covered platform knew or acted
in willful disregard of the fact that the individual
was a child or minor; and
(C) with respect to a covered platform that does
not meet the requirements of subparagraph (A) or (B),
actual knowledge.
(7) Mental health disorder.--The term ``mental health
disorder'' has the meaning given the term ``mental disorder''
in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Health
Disorders, 5th Edition (or the most current successor edition).
(8) Microtransaction.--
(A) In general.--The term ``microtransaction''
means a purchase made in an online video game
(including a purchase made using a virtual currency
that is purchasable or redeemable using cash or credit
or that is included as part of a paid subscription
service).
(B) Inclusions.--Such term includes a purchase
involving surprise mechanics, new characters, or in-
game items.
(C) Exclusions.--Such term does not include--
(i) a purchase made in an online video game
using a virtual currency that is earned through
gameplay and is not otherwise purchasable or
redeemable using cash or credit or included as
part of a paid subscription service; or
(ii) a purchase of additional levels within
the game or an overall expansion of the game.
(9) Minor.--The term ``minor'' means an individual who is
under the age of 17.
(10) Online platform.--
(A) In general.--The term ``online platform'' means
any public-facing website, online service, online
application, or mobile application that predominantly
provides a community forum for user-generated content.
(B) Inclusions.--Such term includes sharing videos,
images, games, audio files, or other content, including
a social media service, social network, or virtual
reality environment.
(C) Exclusions.--Such term does not include chats,
comments, or other interactive functionalities of the
community forum that is incidental to the predominant
purpose of the website, online service, online
application, or mobile application.
(11) Online video game.--The term ``online video game''
means a video game, including an educational video game, that
connects to the internet and that allows a user to--
(A) create and upload content other than content
that is incidental to gameplay, such as character or
level designs created by the user, preselected phrases,
or short interactions with other users;
(B) engage in microtransactions within the game; or
(C) communicate with other users.
(12) Parent.--The term ``parent'' has the meaning given
that term in section 1302 of the Children's Online Privacy
Protection Act (15 U.S.C. 6501).
(13) Personal data.--The term ``personal data'' has the
same meaning as the term ``personal information'' as defined in
section 1302 of the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act
(15 U.S.C. 6501).
(14) Personalized recommendation system.--
(A) In general.--The term ``personalized
recommendation system'' means a fully or partially
automated system used to suggest, promote, rank, or
recommend content, including other users, hashtags, or
posts, based on the personal data of users.
(B) Exclusions.--The term ``personalized
recommendation system'' does not include--
(i) systems that suggests, promotes, or
ranks content based solely on the user's
language, city or town, or age;
(ii) technical means that do not fully
automate or replace human decision-making
processes;
(iii) technical means that are designed to
block, detect, identify, or prevent a user from
accessing inappropriate, unlawful, or harmful
content; or
(iv) technical means designed to prevent or
detect fraud, malicious conduct or other
illegal activity, or preserve the integrity or
security of systems, products, or services.
(15) Sexual exploitation and abuse.--The term ``sexual
exploitation and abuse'' means any of the following:
(A) Coercion and enticement, as described in
section 2422 of title 18, United States Code.
(B) Child sexual abuse material, as described in
sections 2251, 2252, 2252A, and 2260 of title 18,
United States Code.
(C) Trafficking for the production of images, as
described in section 2251A of title 18, United States
Code.
(D) Sex trafficking of children, as described in
section 1591 of title 18, United States Code.
(16) User.--The term ``user'' means, with respect to a
covered platform, an individual who registers an account or
creates a profile on the covered platform.
SEC. 102. DUTY OF CARE.
(a) Prevention of Harm to Minors.--A high impact online company
shall exercise reasonable care in the creation and implementation of
any design feature to prevent and mitigate the following harms to
minors:
(1) Consistent with evidence-informed medical information,
the following mental health disorders: anxiety, depression,
eating disorders, substance use disorders, and suicidal
behaviors.
(2) Patterns of use that indicate or encourage compulsive
usage by minors.
(3) Physical violence (as defined in 18 U.S.C. 16),
cyberbullying and discriminatory harassment of a minor.
(4) Sexual exploitation and abuse of minors.
(5) Promotion and marketing of narcotic drugs (as defined
in section 102 of the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C.
802)), tobacco products, gambling, or alcohol.
(b) Limitation.--Nothing in subsection (a) shall be construed to
require a high impact online company to prevent or preclude--
(1) any minor from deliberately and independently searching
for, or specifically requesting, content; or
(2) the high impact online company or individuals on the
platform from providing resources for the prevention or
mitigation of the harms described in subsection (a), including
evidence-informed information and clinical resources.
SEC. 103. SAFEGUARDS FOR MINORS.
(a) Safeguards for Minors.--
(1) Safeguards.--A covered platform shall provide a user or
visitor that the covered platform knows is a minor with readily
accessible and easy-to-use safeguards to, as applicable--
(A) limit the ability of other users or visitors to
communicate with the minor;
(B) limit design features that encourage or
increase the frequency, time spent, or activity of
minors on the covered platform, such as infinite
scrolling, auto playing, rewards for time spent on the
platform, notifications, badges, push alerts, and other
interactive elements that result in compulsive usage of
the covered platform by the minor; and
(C) control personalized recommendation systems,
including the ability for a minor to have--
(i) the option of opting out of such
personalized recommendation systems, while
still allowing the display of content based on
a chronological format;
(ii) the option of limiting types or
categories of recommendations from such
systems; or
(iii) both such options.
(2) Options.--A covered platform shall provide a user that
the covered platform knows is a minor with readily accessible
and easy-to-use options to limit the amount of time spent by
the minor on the covered platform.
(3) Default safeguard settings for minors.--A covered
platform shall provide that, in the case of a user or visitor
that the platform knows is a minor, the default setting for any
safeguard described under paragraph (1) shall be the option
available on the platform that provides the most protective
level of control that is offered by the platform over safety
for that user or visitor, unless otherwise enabled by the
parent.
(b) Parental Tools.--
(1) Tools.--A covered platform shall provide readily
accessible and easy-to-use settings for parents to support a
user that the platform knows is a minor with respect to the
user's use of the platform.
(2) Requirements.--The parental tools provided by a covered
platform shall include--
(A) the ability to manage a minor's account
settings, including the safeguards and options
established under subsection (a), in a manner that
allows parents to--
(i) view the account settings; and
(ii) in the case of a user that the
platform knows is a child, change and control
the account settings;
(B) the ability to restrict purchases and financial
transactions by the minor, where applicable; and
(C) the ability to view metrics of total time spent
on the covered platform and restrict time spent on the
covered platform by the minor.
(3) Notice to minors.--A covered platform shall provide
clear and conspicuous notice to a user when the tools described
in this subsection are in effect and what settings or controls
have been applied.
(4) Default tools.--A covered platform shall provide that,
in the case of a user that the platform knows is a child, the
tools required under paragraph (1) shall be enabled by default.
(5) Application to existing accounts.--If, prior to the
effective date of this subsection, a covered platform provided
a parent of a user that the platform knows is a child with
notice and the ability to enable the parental tools described
under this subsection in a manner that would otherwise comply
with this subsection, and the parent opted out of enabling such
tools, the covered platform is not required to enable such
tools with respect to such user by default when this subsection
takes effect.
(c) Reporting Mechanism.--
(1) Reports submitted by parents, minors, and schools.--A
covered platform shall provide--
(A) a readily accessible and easy-to-use means to
submit reports to the covered platform of harms to a
minor;
(B) an electronic point of contact specific to
matters involving harms to a minor; and
(C) confirmation of the receipt of such a report
and, within the applicable time period described in
paragraph (2), a substantive response to the individual
that submitted the report.
(2) Timing.--A covered platform shall establish an internal
process to receive and substantively respond to such reports in
a reasonable and timely manner, but in no case later than--
(A) 10 days after the receipt of a report, if, for
the most recent calendar year, the platform averaged
more than 10,000,000 active users on a monthly basis in
the United States;
(B) 21 days after the receipt of a report, if, for
the most recent calendar year, the platform averaged
less than 10,000,000 active users on a monthly basis in
the United States; and
(C) notwithstanding subparagraphs (A) and (B), if
the report involves an imminent threat to the safety of
a minor, as promptly as needed to address the reported
threat to safety.
(d) Advertising of Illegal Products.--A covered platform shall not
facilitate the advertising of narcotic drugs (as defined in section 102
of the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 802)), tobacco products,
gambling, or alcohol to an individual that the covered platform knows
is a minor.
(e) Rules of Application.--
(1) Accessibility.--With respect to safeguards and parental
tools described under subsections (a) and (b), a covered
platform shall provide--
(A) information and control options in a clear and
conspicuous manner that takes into consideration the
differing ages, capacities, and developmental needs of
the minors most likely to access the covered platform
and does not encourage minors or parents to weaken or
disable safeguards or parental tools;
(B) readily accessible and easy-to-use controls to
enable or disable safeguards or parental tools, as
appropriate; and
(C) information and control options in the same
language, form, and manner as the covered platform
provides the product or service used by minors and
their parents.
(2) Dark patterns prohibition.--It shall be unlawful for
any covered platform to design, embed, modify, or manipulate a
user interface of a covered platform with the purpose or
substantial effect of obscuring, subverting, or impairing user
autonomy, decision making, or choice with respect to safeguards
or parental tools required under this section.
(3) Timing considerations.--
(A) No interruption to gameplay.--Subsections
(a)(1)(C) and (b)(3) shall not require an online video
game to interrupt the natural sequence of game play,
such as progressing through game levels or finishing a
competition.
(B) Application of changes to offline devices or
accounts.--If a user's device or user account does not
have access to the internet at the time of a change to
parental tools, a covered platform shall apply changes
the next time the device or user is connected to the
internet.
(4) Rules of construction.--Nothing in this section shall
be construed to--
(A) prevent a covered platform from taking
reasonable measures to--
(i) block, detect, or prevent the
distribution of unlawful, obscene, or other
harmful material to minors as described in
section 102(a); or
(ii) block or filter spam, prevent criminal
activity, or protect the security of a platform
or service;
(B) require the disclosure of a minor's browsing
behavior, search history, messages, contact list, or
other content or metadata of their communications;
(C) prevent a covered platform from using a
personalized recommendation system to display content
to a minor if the system only uses information on--
(i) the language spoken by the minor;
(ii) the city the minor is located in; or
(iii) the minor's age; or
(D) prevent an online video game from disclosing a
username or other user identification for the purpose
of competitive gameplay or to allow for the reporting
of users.
(f) Device or Console Controls.--
(1) In general.--Nothing in this section shall be construed
to prohibit a covered platform from integrating its products or
service with, or duplicate controls or tools provided by,
third-party systems, including operating systems or gaming
consoles, to meet the requirements imposed under subsections
(a) and (b) relating to safeguards for minors and parental
tools, provided that--
(A) the controls or tools meet such requirements;
and
(B) the minor or parent is provided sufficient
notice of the integration and use of the parental
tools.
(2) Preservation of protections.--In the event of a
conflict between the controls or tools of a third-party system,
including operating systems or gaming consoles, and a covered
platform, the covered platform is not required to override the
controls or tools of a third-party system if it would undermine
the protections for minors from the safeguards or parental
tools imposed under subsections (a) and (b).
SEC. 104. DISCLOSURE.
(a) Notice.--
(1) Registration or purchase.--Prior to registration or
purchase of a covered platform by an individual that the
platform knows is a minor, the platform shall provide clear,
conspicuous, and easy-to-understand--
(A) notice of the policies and practices of the
covered platform with respect to safeguards for minors;
(B) information about how to access the safeguards
and parental tools required under section 103; and
(C) notice about whether the covered platform uses
or makes available to minors a product, service, or
design feature, including any personalized
recommendation system, that poses any heightened risk
of harm to minors.
(2) Notification.--
(A) Notice and acknowledgment.--In the case of an
individual that a covered platform knows is a child,
the platform shall additionally provide information
about the parental tools and safeguards required under
section 103 to a parent of the child and obtain
verifiable parental consent (as defined in section
1302(9) of the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act
(15 U.S.C. 6501(9))) from the parent prior to the
initial use of the covered platform by the child.
(B) Reasonable effort.--A covered platform shall be
deemed to have satisfied the requirement described in
subparagraph (A) if the covered platform is in
compliance with the requirements of the Children's
Online Privacy Protection Act (15 U.S.C. 6501 et seq.)
to use reasonable efforts (taking into consideration
available technology) to provide a parent with the
information described in subparagraph (A) and to obtain
verifiable parental consent as required.
(3) Consolidated notices.--For purposes of this Act, a
covered platform may consolidate the process for providing
information under this subsection and obtaining verifiable
parental consent or the consent of the minor involved (as
applicable) as required under this subsection with its
obligations to provide relevant notice and obtain verifiable
consent under the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (15
U.S.C. 6501 et seq.).
(4) Guidance.--The Federal Trade Commission may issue
guidance to assist covered platforms in complying with the
specific notice requirements of this subsection.
(b) Personalized Recommendation System.--A covered platform that
operates a personalized recommendation system shall set out in its
terms and conditions, in a clear, conspicuous, and easy-to-understand
manner--
(1) an overview of how such personalized recommendation
system is used by the covered platform to provide information
to minors; and
(2) information about options for minors or their parents
to opt out of or control the personalized recommendation system
(as applicable).
(c) Resources for Parents and Minors.--A covered platform shall
provide to minors and parents clear, conspicuous, easy-to-understand,
and comprehensive information in a prominent location, which may
include a link to a web page, regarding--
(1) its policies and practices with respect to safeguards
for minors; and
(2) how to access the safeguards and tools required under
section 103.
(d) Resources in Additional Languages.--A covered platform shall
ensure, to the extent practicable, that the disclosures required by
this section are made available in the same language, form, and manner
as the covered platform provides any product or service used by minors
and their parents.
SEC. 105. TRANSPARENCY.
(a) In General.--Subject to subsection (b), not less frequently
than once a year, a covered platform shall issue a public report
describing the reasonably foreseeable risks of harms to minors and
assessing the prevention and mitigation measures taken to address such
risk based on an independent, third-party audit conducted through
reasonable inspection of the covered platform.
(b) Scope of Application.--The requirements of this section shall
apply to a covered platform if--
(1) for the most recent calendar year, the platform
averaged more than 10,000,000 active users on a monthly basis
in the United States; and
(2) the platform predominantly provides a community forum
for user-generated content and discussion, including sharing
videos, images, games, audio files, discussion in a virtual
setting, or other content, such as acting as a social media
platform, virtual reality environment, or a social network
service.
(c) Content.--
(1) Transparency.--The public reports required of a covered
platform under this section shall include--
(A) an assessment of the extent to which the
platform is likely to be accessed by minors;
(B) a description of the commercial interests of
the covered platform in use by minors;
(C) an accounting, based on the data held by the
covered platform, of--
(i) the number of users using the covered
platform that the platform knows to be minors
in the United States;
(ii) the median and mean amounts of time
spent on the platform by users known to be
minors in the United States who have accessed
the platform during the reporting year on a
daily, weekly, and monthly basis; and
(iii) the amount of content being accessed
by users that the platform knows to be minors
in the United States that is in English, and
the top 5 non-English languages used by users
accessing the platform in the United States;
(D) an accounting of total reports received
regarding, and the prevalence (which can be based on
scientifically valid sampling methods using the content
available to the covered platform in the normal course
of business) of content related to, the harms described
in section 102(a), disaggregated by category of harm
and language, including English and the top 5 non-
English languages used by users accessing the platform
from the United States (as identified under
subparagraph (C)(iii)); and
(E) a description of any material breaches of
parental tools or assurances regarding minors, and
other matters regarding non-compliance with this Act.
(2) Reasonably foreseeable risk of harm to minors.--The
public reports required of a covered platform under this
section shall include--
(A) an assessment of the reasonably foreseeable
risk of harms to minors posed by the covered platform,
specifically identifying those physical, mental,
developmental, or financial harms described in section
102(a);
(B) a description of whether and how the covered
platform uses design features that encourage or
increase the frequency, time spent, or activity of
minors on the covered platform, such as infinite
scrolling, auto playing, rewards for time spent on the
platform, notifications, and other design features that
result in compulsive usage of the covered platform by
the minor;
(C) a description of whether, how, and for what
purpose the platform collects or processes categories
of personal data that may cause reasonably foreseeable
risk of harms to minors;
(D) an evaluation of the efficacy of safeguards for
minors and parental tools under section 103, and any
issues in delivering such safeguards and the associated
parental tools;
(E) an evaluation of any other relevant matters of
public concern over risk of harms to minors associated
with the use of the covered platform; and
(F) an assessment of differences in risk of harm to
minors across different English and non-English
languages and efficacy of safeguards in those
languages.
(3) Mitigation.--The public reports required of a covered
platform under this section shall include, for English and the
top 5 non-English languages used by users accessing the
platform from the United States (as identified under paragraph
(2)(C)(iii))--
(A) a description of the safeguards and parental
tools available to minors and parents on the covered
platform;
(B) a description of interventions by the covered
platform when it had or has reason to believe that
harms to minors could occur;
(C) a description of the prevention and mitigation
measures intended to be taken in response to the known
and emerging risks identified in its assessment of
reasonably foreseeable risks of harms to minors,
including steps taken to--
(i) prevent harms to minors, including
adapting or removing design features or
addressing through parental tools;
(ii) provide the most protective level of
control over safety by default; and
(iii) adapt recommendation systems to
mitigate reasonably foreseeable risk of harms
to minors, as described in section 102(a);
(D) a description of internal processes for
handling reports and automated detection mechanisms for
harms to minors, including the rate, timeliness, and
effectiveness of responses under the requirement of
section 103(c);
(E) the status of implementing prevention and
mitigation measures identified in prior assessments;
and
(F) a description of the additional measures to be
taken by the covered platform to address the
circumvention of safeguards for minors and parental
tools.
(d) Reasonable Inspection.--In conducting an inspection of the
reasonably foreseeable risk of harm to minors under this section, an
independent, third-party auditor shall--
(1) take into consideration the function of personalized
recommendation systems;
(2) consult parents and youth experts, including youth and
families with relevant past or current experience, public
health and mental health nonprofit organizations, health and
development organizations, and civil society with respect to
the prevention of harms to minors;
(3) conduct research based on experiences of minors that
use the covered platform, including reports under section
103(c) and information provided by law enforcement;
(4) take account of research, including research regarding
design features, marketing, or product integrity, industry best
practices, or outside research;
(5) consider indicia or inferences of age of users, in
addition to any self-declared information about the age of
users; and
(6) take into consideration differences in risk of
reasonably foreseeable harms and effectiveness of safeguards
across English and non-English languages.
(e) Cooperation With Independent, Third-Party Audit.--To facilitate
the report required by subsection (c), a covered platform shall--
(1) provide or otherwise make available to the independent
third-party conducting the audit all information and material
in its possession, custody, or control that is relevant to the
audit;
(2) provide or otherwise make available to the independent
third-party conducting the audit access to all network,
systems, and assets relevant to the audit; and
(3) disclose all relevant facts to the independent third-
party conducting the audit, and not misrepresent in any manner,
expressly or by implication, any relevant fact.
(f) Privacy Safeguards.--
(1) In general.--In issuing the public reports required
under this section, a covered platform shall take steps to
safeguard the privacy of its users, including ensuring that
data is presented in a de-identified, aggregated format such
that it is not reasonably linkable to any user.
(2) Rule of construction.--This section shall not be
construed to require the disclosure of information that will
lead to material vulnerabilities for the privacy of users or
the security of a covered platform's service or create a
significant risk of the violation of Federal or State law.
(3) Definition of de-identified.--As used in this
subsection, the term ``de-identified'' means data that does not
identify and is not linked or reasonably linkable to a device
that is linked or reasonably linkable to an individual,
regardless of whether the information is aggregated.
(g) Location.--The public reports required under this section
should be posted by a covered platform on an easy to find location on a
publicly available website.
SEC. 106. RESEARCH ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND MINORS.
(a) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Commission.--The term ``Commission'' means the Federal
Trade Commission.
(2) National academy.--The term ``National Academy'' means
the National Academy of Sciences.
(3) Secretary.--The term ``Secretary'' means the Secretary
of Health and Human Services.
(b) Research on Social Media Harms.--Not later than 12 months after
the date of enactment of this Act, the Commission shall seek to enter
into a contract with the National Academy, under which the National
Academy shall conduct no less than 5 scientific, comprehensive studies
and reports on the risk of harms to minors by use of social media and
other online platforms, including in English and non-English languages.
(c) Matters To Be Addressed.--In contracting with the National
Academy, the Commission, in consultation with the Secretary, shall seek
to commission separate studies and reports, using the Commission's
authority under section 6(b) of the Federal Trade Commission Act (15
U.S.C. 46(b)), on the relationship between social media and other
online platforms as defined in this Act on the following matters:
(1) Anxiety, depression, eating disorders, and suicidal
behaviors.
(2) Substance use disorders and the use of narcotic drugs,
tobacco products, gambling, or alcohol by minors.
(3) Sexual exploitation and abuse.
(4) Addiction-like use of social media and design factors
that lead to unhealthy and harmful overuse of social media.
(d) Additional Study.--Not earlier than 4 years after enactment,
the Commission shall seek to enter into a contract with the National
Academy under which the National Academy shall conduct an additional
study and report covering the matters described in subsection (c) for
the purposes of providing additional information, considering new
research, and other matters.
(e) Content of Reports.--The comprehensive studies and reports
conducted pursuant to this section shall seek to evaluate impacts and
advance understanding, knowledge, and remedies regarding the harms to
minors posed by social media and other online platforms, and may
include recommendations related to public policy.
(f) Active Studies.--If the National Academy is engaged in any
active studies on the matters described in subsection (c) at the time
that it enters into a contract with the Commission to conduct a study
under this section, it may base the study to be conducted under this
section on the active study, so long as it otherwise incorporates the
requirements of this section.
(g) Collaboration.--In designing and conducting the studies under
this section, the Commission, the Secretary, and the National Academy
shall consult with the Surgeon General and the Kids Online Safety
Council.
(h) Access to Data.--
(1) Fact-finding authority.--The Commission may issue
orders under section 6(b) of the Federal Trade Commission Act
(15 U.S.C. 46(b)) to require covered platforms to provide
reports, data, or answers in writing as necessary to conduct
the studies required under this section.
(2) Scope.--In exercising its authority under paragraph
(1), the Commission may issue orders to no more than 5 covered
platforms per study under this section.
(3) Confidential access.--Notwithstanding section 6(f) or
21 of the Federal Trade Commission Act (15 U.S.C. 46, 57b-2),
the Commission shall enter in agreements with the National
Academy to share appropriate information received from a
covered platform pursuant to an order under such subsection (b)
for a comprehensive study under this section in a confidential
and secure manner, and to prohibit the disclosure or sharing of
such information by the National Academy. Nothing in this
paragraph shall be construed to preclude the disclosure of any
such information if authorized or required by any other law.
SEC. 107. MARKET RESEARCH.
(a) Market Research by Covered Platforms.--The Federal Trade
Commission, in consultation with the Secretary of Commerce, shall issue
guidance for covered platforms seeking to conduct market- and product-
focused research on minors. Such guidance shall include--
(1) a standard consent form that provides minors and their
parents a clear, conspicuous, and easy-to-understand
explanation of the scope and purpose of the research to be
conducted that is available in English and the top 5 non-
English languages used in the United States;
(2) information on how to obtain informed consent from the
parent of a minor prior to conducting such market- and product-
focused research; and
(3) recommendations for research practices for studies that
may include minors, disaggregated by the age ranges of 0-5, 6-
9, 10-12, and 13-16.
(b) Timing.--The Federal Trade Commission shall issue such guidance
not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of this Act. In
doing so, they shall seek input from members of the public and the
representatives of the Kids Online Safety Council established under
section 111.
SEC. 108. AGE VERIFICATION STUDY AND REPORT.
(a) Study.--The Secretary of Commerce, in coordination with the
Federal Communications Commission and Federal Trade Commission, shall
conduct a study evaluating the most technologically feasible methods
and options for developing systems to verify age at the device or
operating system level.
(b) Contents.--Such study shall consider--
(1) the benefits of creating a device or operating system
level age verification system;
(2) what information may need to be collected to create
this type of age verification system;
(3) the accuracy of such systems and their impact or steps
to improve accessibility, including for individuals with
disabilities;
(4) how such a system or systems could verify age while
mitigating risks to user privacy and data security and
safeguarding minors' personal data, emphasizing minimizing the
amount of data collected and processed by covered platforms and
age verification providers for such a system;
(5) the technical feasibility, including the need for
potential hardware and software changes, including for devices
currently in commerce and owned by consumers; and
(6) the impact of different age verification systems on
competition, particularly the risk of different age
verification systems creating barriers to entry for small
companies.
(c) Report.--Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of
this Act, the agencies described in subsection (a) shall submit a
report containing the results of the study conducted under such
subsection to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of
the Senate and the Committee on Energy and Commerce of the House of
Representatives.
SEC. 109. GUIDANCE.
(a) In General.--Not later than 18 months after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Federal Trade Commission, in consultation
with the Kids Online Safety Council established under section 111,
shall issue guidance to--
(1) provide information and examples for covered platforms
and auditors regarding, with consideration given to differences
across English and non-English languages--
(A) identifying design features that encourage or
increase the frequency, time spent, or activity of
minors on the covered platform;
(B) safeguarding minors against the possible misuse
of parental tools;
(C) best practices in providing minors and parents
the most protective level of control over safety;
(D) using indicia or inferences of age of users for
assessing use of the covered platform by minors;
(E) methods for evaluating the efficacy of
safeguards set forth in this Act; and
(F) providing additional parental tool options that
allow parents to address the harms described in section
102(a); and
(2) outline conduct that does not have the purpose or
substantial effect of subverting or impairing user autonomy,
decision making, or choice, or of causing, increasing, or
encouraging compulsive usage for a minor, such as--
(A) de minimis user interface changes derived from
testing consumer preferences, including different
styles, layouts, or text, where such changes are not
done with the purpose of weakening or disabling
safeguards or parental tools; and
(B) establishing default settings that provide
enhanced protection to users or otherwise enhance their
autonomy and decision-making ability.
(b) Guidance to Schools.--Not later than 18 months after the date
of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Education, in consultation
with the Federal Trade Commission and the Kids Online Safety Council
established under section 111, shall issue guidance to assist
elementary and secondary schools in using the notice, safeguards and
tools provided under this Act and providing information on online
safety for students and teachers.
(c) Limitation on Federal Trade Commission Guidance.--
(1) Effect of guidance.--No guidance issued by the Federal
Trade Commission with respect to this Act shall--
(A) confer any rights on any person, State, or
locality; or
(B) operate to bind the Federal Trade Commission or
any court, person, State, or locality to the approach
recommended in such guidance.
(2) Use in enforcement actions.--In any enforcement action
brought pursuant to this Act, the Federal Trade Commission or a
State attorney general, as applicable--
(A) shall allege a violation of a provision of this
Act; and
(B) may not base such enforcement action on, or
execute a consent order based on, practices that are
alleged to be inconsistent with guidance issued by the
Federal Trade Commission with respect to this Act,
unless the practices are alleged to violate a provision
of this Act.
SEC. 110. ENFORCEMENT.
(a) Enforcement by Federal Trade Commission.--
(1) Unfair and deceptive acts or practices.--A violation of
this Act shall be treated as a violation of a rule defining an
unfair or deceptive act or practice prescribed under section
18(a)(1)(B) of the Federal Trade Commission Act (15 U.S.C.
57a(a)(1)(B)).
(2) Powers of the commission.--
(A) In general.--The Federal Trade Commission
(referred to in this section as the ``Commission'')
shall enforce this Act in the same manner, by the same
means, and with the same jurisdiction, powers, and
duties as though all applicable terms and provisions of
the Federal Trade Commission Act (15 U.S.C. 41 et seq.)
were incorporated into and made a part of this Act.
(B) Privileges and immunities.--Any person that
violates this Act shall be subject to the penalties,
and entitled to the privileges and immunities, provided
in the Federal Trade Commission Act (15 U.S.C. 41 et
seq.).
(3) Authority preserved.--Nothing in this Act shall be
construed to limit the authority of the Commission under any
other provision of law.
(b) Enforcement by State Attorneys General.--
(1) In general.--
(A) Civil actions.--In any case in which the
attorney general of a State has reason to believe that
a covered platform has violated or is violating section
103, 104, or 105, the State, as parens patriae, may
bring a civil action on behalf of the residents of the
State in a district court of the United States or a
State court of appropriate jurisdiction to--
(i) enjoin any practice that violates
section 103, 104, or 105;
(ii) enforce compliance with section 103,
104, or 105;
(iii) on behalf of residents of the State,
obtain damages, restitution, or other
compensation, each of which shall be
distributed in accordance with State law; or
(iv) obtain such other relief as the court
may consider to be appropriate.
(B) Notice.--
(i) In general.--Before filing an action
under subparagraph (A), the attorney general of
the State involved shall provide to the
Commission--
(I) written notice of that action;
and
(II) a copy of the complaint for
that action.
(ii) Exemption.--
(I) In general.--Clause (i) shall
not apply with respect to the filing of
an action by an attorney general of a
State under this paragraph if the
attorney general of the State
determines that it is not feasible to
provide the notice described in that
clause before the filing of the action.
(II) Notification.--In an action
described in subclause (I), the
attorney general of a State shall
provide notice and a copy of the
complaint to the Commission at the same
time as the attorney general files the
action.
(2) Intervention.--
(A) In general.--On receiving notice under
paragraph (1)(B), the Commission shall have the right
to intervene in the action that is the subject of the
notice.
(B) Effect of intervention.--If the Commission
intervenes in an action under paragraph (1), it shall
have the right--
(i) to be heard with respect to any matter
that arises in that action; and
(ii) to file a petition for appeal.
(3) Construction.--For purposes of bringing any civil
action under paragraph (1), nothing in this Act shall be
construed to prevent an attorney general of a State from
exercising the powers conferred on the attorney general by the
laws of that State to--
(A) conduct investigations;
(B) administer oaths or affirmations; or
(C) compel the attendance of witnesses or the
production of documentary and other evidence.
(4) Actions by the commission.--In any case in which an
action is instituted by or on behalf of the Commission for
violation of this Act, no State may, during the pendency of
that action, institute a separate action under paragraph (1)
against any defendant named in the complaint in the action
instituted by or on behalf of the Commission for that
violation.
(5) Venue; service of process.--
(A) Venue.--Any action brought under paragraph (1)
may be brought in--
(i) the district court of the United States
that meets applicable requirements relating to
venue under section 1391 of title 28, United
States Code; or
(ii) a State court of competent
jurisdiction.
(B) Service of process.--In an action brought under
paragraph (1) in a district court of the United States,
process may be served wherever defendant--
(i) is an inhabitant; or
(ii) may be found.
(6) Limitation.--A violation of section 102 shall not form
the basis of liability in any action brought by the attorney
general of a State under a State law.
SEC. 111. KIDS ONLINE SAFETY COUNCIL.
(a) Establishment.--Not later than 180 days after the date of
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Commerce shall establish and
convene the Kids Online Safety Council for the purpose of providing
advice on matters related to this Act.
(b) Participation.--The Kids Online Safety Council shall include
diverse participation from--
(1) academic experts, health professionals, and members of
civil society with expertise in mental health, substance use
disorders, and the prevention of harms to minors;
(2) representatives in academia and civil society with
specific expertise in privacy and civil liberties;
(3) parents and youth representation;
(4) representatives of covered platforms;
(5) representatives of the National Telecommunications and
Information Administration, the National Institute of Standards
and Technology, the Federal Trade Commission, the Department of
Justice, and the Department of Health and Human Services;
(6) State attorneys general or their designees acting in
State or local government;
(7) educators; and
(8) representatives of communities of socially
disadvantaged individuals (as defined in section 8 of the Small
Business Act (15 U.S.C. 637)).
(c) Activities.--The matters to be addressed by the Kids Online
Safety Council shall include--
(1) identifying emerging or current risks of harms to
minors associated with online platforms;
(2) recommending measures and methods for assessing,
preventing, and mitigating harms to minors online;
(3) recommending methods and themes for conducting research
regarding online harms to minors, including in English and non-
English languages; and
(4) recommending best practices and clear, consensus-based
technical standards for transparency reports and audits, as
required under this Act, including methods, criteria, and scope
to promote overall accountability.
(d) Non-Applicability of FACA.--The Kids Online Safety Council
shall not be subject to chapter 10 of title 5, United States Code
(commonly referred to as the ``Federal Advisory Committee Act'').
SEC. 112. EFFECTIVE DATE.
Except as otherwise provided in this title, this title shall take
effect on the date that is 18 months after the date of enactment of
this Act.
SEC. 113. RULES OF CONSTRUCTION AND OTHER MATTERS.
(a) Relationship to Other Laws.--Nothing in this title shall be
construed to--
(1) preempt section 444 of the General Education Provisions
Act (20 U.S.C. 1232g, commonly known as the ``Family
Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974'') or other Federal
or State laws governing student privacy;
(2) preempt the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act of
1998 (15 U.S.C. 6501 et seq.) or any rule or regulation
promulgated under such Act; or
(3) authorize any action that would conflict with section
18(h) of the Federal Trade Commission Act (15 U.S.C. 57a(h)).
(b) Protections for Privacy.--Nothing in this title shall be
construed to require--
(1) the affirmative collection of any personal data with
respect to the age of users that a covered platform is not
already collecting in the normal course of business; or
(2) a covered platform to implement an age gating or age
verification functionality.
(c) Compliance.--Nothing in this title shall be construed to
restrict a covered platform's ability to--
(1) cooperate with law enforcement agencies regarding
activity that the covered platform reasonably and in good faith
believes may violate Federal, State, or local laws, rules, or
regulations;
(2) comply with a lawful civil, criminal, or regulatory
inquiry, subpoena, or summons by Federal, State, local, or
other government authorities;
(3) prevent, detect, protect against, or respond to
security incidents, identity theft, fraud, harassment,
malicious or deceptive activities, or any illegal activity;
preserve the integrity or security of systems; or investigate,
report, or prosecute those responsible for any such action; or
(4) investigate, establish, exercise, respond to, or defend
against legal claims.
(d) Application to Video Streaming Services.--A video streaming
service shall be deemed to be in compliance with this Act if it
predominantly consists of news, sports, entertainment, or other video
programming content that is preselected by the provider and not user-
generated, and--
(1) any chat, comment, or interactive functionality is
provided incidental to, directly related to, or dependent on
provision of such content;
(2) if such video streaming service requires account owner
registration and is not predominantly news or sports, the
service includes the capability--
(A) to limit a minor's access to the service, which
may utilize a system of age-rating;
(B) to limit the automatic playing of on-demand
content selected by a personalized recommendation
system for an individual that the service knows is a
minor;
(C) to provide an individual that the service knows
is a minor with readily accessible and easy-to-use
options to delete an account held by the minor on the
service, or, in the case of a service that allows a
parent to create a profile for a minor, to allow a
parent to delete the minor's profile;
(D) for a parent to manage a minor's account
settings, and restrict purchases and financial
transactions by a minor, where applicable;
(E) to provide an electronic point of contact
specific to matters described in this paragraph;
(F) to offer a clear, conspicuous, and easy-to-
understand notice of its policies and practices with
respect the capabilities described in this paragraph;
and
(G) when providing on-demand content, to employ
measures that safeguard against serving advertising for
narcotic drugs (as defined in section 102 of the
Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. 802)), tobacco
products, gambling, or alcohol directly to the account
or profile of an individual that the service knows is a
minor.
SEC. 114. SEVERABILITY.
If any provision of this title, or an amendment made by this title,
is determined to be unenforceable or invalid, the remaining provisions
of this title and the amendments made by this title shall not be
affected.
TITLE II--FILTER BUBBLE TRANSPARENCY
SEC. 201. DEFINITIONS.
In this title:
(1) Algorithmic ranking system.--The term ``algorithmic
ranking system'' means a computational process, including one
derived from algorithmic decision-making, machine learning,
statistical analysis, or other data processing or artificial
intelligence techniques, used to determine the selection,
order, relative prioritization, or relative prominence of
content from a set of information that is provided to a user on
an online platform, including the ranking of search results,
the provision of content recommendations, the display of social
media posts, or any other method of automated content
selection.
(2) Approximate geolocation information.--The term
``approximate geolocation information'' means information that
identifies the location of an individual, but with a precision
of less than 5 miles.
(3) Commission.--The term ``Commission'' means the Federal
Trade Commission.
(4) Connected device.--The term ``connected device'' means
an electronic device that--
(A) is capable of connecting to the internet,
either directly or indirectly through a network, to
communicate information at the direction of an
individual;
(B) has computer processing capabilities for
collecting, sending, receiving, or analyzing data; and
(C) is primarily designed for or marketed to
consumers.
(5) Input-transparent algorithm.--
(A) In general.--The term ``input-transparent
algorithm'' means an algorithmic ranking system that
does not use the user-specific data of a user to
determine the selection, order, relative
prioritization, or relative prominence of information
that is furnished to such user on an online platform,
unless the user-specific data is expressly provided to
the platform by the user for such purpose.
(B) Data expressly provided to the platform.--For
purposes of subparagraph (A), user-specific data that
is provided by a user for the express purpose of
determining the selection, order, relative
prioritization, or relative prominence of information
that is furnished to such user on an online platform--
(i) shall include user-supplied search
terms, filters, speech patterns (if provided
for the purpose of enabling the platform to
accept spoken input or selecting the language
in which the user interacts with the platform),
saved preferences, the resumption of a previous
search, and the current precise geolocation
information that is supplied by the user;
(ii) shall include the user's current
approximate geolocation information;
(iii) shall include data submitted to the
platform by the user that expresses the user's
desire to receive particular information, such
as the social media profiles the user follows,
the video channels the user subscribes to, or
other content or sources of content on the
platform the user has selected;
(iv) shall not include the history of the
user's connected device, including the user's
history of web searches and browsing, previous
geographical locations, physical activity,
device interaction, and financial transactions;
and
(v) shall not include inferences about the
user or the user's connected device, without
regard to whether such inferences are based on
data described in clause (i) or (iii).
(6) Online platform.--
(A) In general.--The term ``online platform'' means
any public-facing website, online service, online
application, or mobile application that predominantly
provides a community forum for user-generated content.
(B) Inclusions.--Such term includes sharing videos,
images, games, audio files, or other content, including
a social media service, social network, or virtual
reality environment.
(C) Exclusions.--Such term does not include chats,
comments, or other interactive functionalities of the
community forum that is incidental to the predominant
purpose of the website, online service, online
application, or mobile application.
(7) Opaque algorithm.--
(A) In general.--The term ``opaque algorithm''
means an algorithmic ranking system that determines the
selection, order, relative prioritization, or relative
prominence of information that is furnished to such
user on an online platform based, in whole or part, on
user-specific data that was not expressly provided by
the user to the platform for such purpose.
(B) Exception for age-appropriate content
filters.--Such term shall not include an algorithmic
ranking system used by an online platform if--
(i) the only user-specific data (including
inferences about the user) that the system uses
is information relating to the age of the user;
and
(ii) such information is only used to
restrict a user's access to content on the
basis that the individual is not old enough to
access such content.
(8) Precise geolocation information.--The term ``precise
geolocation information'' means geolocation information that
identifies an individual's location to within a range of 5
miles or less.
(9) User-specific data.--The term ``user-specific data''
means information relating to an individual or a specific
connected device that would not necessarily be true of every
individual or device.
SEC. 202. REQUIREMENT TO ALLOW USERS TO SEE UNMANIPULATED CONTENT ON
INTERNET PLATFORMS.
(a) In General.--Beginning on the date that is 1 year after the
date of enactment of this Act, it shall be unlawful for any person to
operate an online platform that uses an opaque algorithm unless the
person complies with the requirements of subsection (b).
(b) Opaque Algorithm Requirements.--
(1) In general.--The requirements of this subsection with
respect to a person that operates an online platform that uses
an opaque algorithm are the following:
(A) The person provides notice to users of the
platform--
(i) that the platform uses an opaque
algorithm that uses user-specific data to
select the content the user sees. Such notice
shall be presented in a clear and conspicuous
manner on the platform whenever the user
interacts with an opaque algorithm for the
first time, and may be a one-time notice that
can be dismissed by the user; and
(ii) in the terms and conditions of the
online platform, in a clear, accessible, and
easily comprehensible manner that is to be
updated whenever the online platform makes a
material change to--
(I) the most salient features,
inputs, and parameters used by the
algorithm;
(II) how any user-specific data
used by the algorithm is collected or
inferred about a user of the platform,
and the categories of such data;
(III) any options that the online
platform makes available for a user of
the platform to opt out or exercise
options under subparagraph (B), modify
the profile of the user or to influence
the features, inputs, or parameters
used by the algorithm; and
(IV) any quantities, such as time
spent using a product or specific
measures of engagement or social
interaction, that the algorithm is
designed to optimize, as well as a
general description of the relative
importance of each quantity for such
ranking.
(B) The online platform enables users to easily
switch between the opaque algorithm and an input-
transparent algorithm in their use of the platform.
(2) Rule of construction.--Nothing in this subsection shall
be construed to require an online platform to disclose any
information, including data or algorithms--
(A) relating to a trade secret or other protected
intellectual property;
(B) that is confidential business information; or
(C) that is privileged.
(3) Prohibition on differential pricing.--An online
platform shall not deny, charge different prices or rates for,
or condition the provision of a service or product to a user
based on the user's election to use an input-transparent
algorithm in their use of the platform, as provided under
paragraph (1)(B).
(c) Enforcement by Federal Trade Commission.--
(1) Unfair or deceptive acts or practices.--A violation of
this section by an operator of an online platform shall be
treated as a violation of a rule defining an unfair or
deceptive act or practice prescribed under section 18(a)(1)(B)
of the Federal Trade Commission Act (15 U.S.C. 57a(a)(1)(B)).
(2) Powers of commission.--
(A) In general.--The Federal Trade Commission shall
enforce this section in the same manner, by the same
means, and with the same jurisdiction, powers, and
duties as though all applicable terms and provisions of
the Federal Trade Commission Act (15 U.S.C. 41 et seq.)
were incorporated into and made a part of this section.
(B) Privileges and immunities.--Except as provided
in subparagraph (C), any person who violates this Act
shall be subject to the penalties and entitled to the
privileges and immunities provided in the Federal Trade
Commission Act (15 U.S.C. 41 et seq.).
(C) Authority preserved.--Nothing in this section
shall be construed to limit the authority of the
Commission under any other provision of law.
(d) Rule of Construction To Preserve Personalized Blocks.--Nothing
in this section shall be construed to limit or prohibit an online
platform's ability to, at the direction of an individual user or group
of users, restrict another user from searching for, finding, accessing,
or interacting with such user's or group's account, content, data, or
online community.
SEC. 203. SEVERABILITY.
If any provision of this title, or an amendment made by this title,
is determined to be unenforceable or invalid, the remaining provisions
of this title and the amendments made by this title shall not be
affected.
TITLE III--RELATIONSHIP TO STATE LAWS
SEC. 301. RELATIONSHIP TO STATE LAWS.
The provisions of this Act shall preempt any State law, rule, or
regulation only to the extent that such State law, rule, or regulation
conflicts with a provision of this Act. Nothing in this Act shall be
construed to prohibit a State from enacting a law, rule, or regulation
that provides greater protection to minors than the protection provided
by the provisions of this Act.
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