“To amend the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act of 1998 to promote online safety for minors, and for other purposes.”
No CRS summary available for this bill.
This section revises subtitle A of the Protecting Children in the 21st Century Act (15 U.S.C. 6551 et seq.) by striking sections 211 through 214 and 216 and inserting new sections 211 through 213 to establish a Federal Trade Commission (FTC) program promoting online safety for minors (i.e., individuals under age 17) and conforming table of contents amendments. New section 211 requires the FTC, within 180 days of enactment and in partnership with other agencies, state and local governments, nonprofits, schools, industry, law enforcement, medical professionals, and other entities, to carry out a nationwide program that (1) identifies, promotes, and encourages best practices to protect minors online; (2) establishes an outreach and education campaign; (3) facilitates access to and exchange of information on online harms, risks, and benefits to minors; and (4) supports access to safety education efforts by other entities. New section 212 requires the FTC to submit to the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and the House Committee on Energy and Commerce an annual report describing section 211 activities, beginning one year after enactment and continuing for 10 years. New section 213 defines terms including "agency" (as in 5 U.S.C. §551, generally excluding Congress, courts, and certain military and territorial functions); "Commission" (FTC); "minor" (under age 17); "nonprofit organization" (501(c)(3) tax-exempt entity); "online safety" (protecting minors from cybercrimes, narcotics, tobacco, gambling, alcohol, adult content, compulsive online behavior, and adverse health impacts while promoting parental controls and safeguards); and "State" (each state, the District of Columbia, territories, possessions, and federally recognized Indian tribes).