Lee Discusses Need to Protect Children Online in Congressional Hearing

Rep. Laurel Lee

Representative Laurel Lee (R-FL) discussed how to protect children online in a recent House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee hearing, describing how the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) of 1998 is woefully outdated.

"So during last Congress, I had an opportunity to work on legislation related to protecting children and was fortunate to partner with a number of the groups that are represented here today in crafting that policy," Rep. Lee began, "And I look forward to continuing to work together on protecting kids online here in this committee, as our committee explores legislation such as COPPA."

Rep. Lee turned to Ethics and Public Policy Center Fellow Clare Morell, a hearing witness who described how Big Tech has outmaneuvered content filters and faces no accountability for implementing an intentionally addictive design into their feed systems, which are harmful to minors.

"I think that the nature of social media today is not a safe place for children," said Morell, adding, "I feel like example after example has shown that the environment created by the product design, the way their algorithms work, the kinds of material it promotes, which is often the most sensational or violent or explicit materials."

The Florida Congresswoman then spoke with the National Center on Sexual Exploitation's Senior Advisor, Dawn Hawkins, asking, "One of the things that you have emphasized is the vulnerability of young teens who are not protected after the age of 13 under our current scheme. Would you like to speak on this as well and how you think that should change?"

Hawkins described how the "children under 13" rule established by COPPA effectively made the digital age of adulthood 13.

"And even though it was focused on privacy, Big Tech has just run away with this idea," Hawkins continued, accusing Google of actively pushing pornography to minors since "they are adults at that age."

Rep. Lee played a crucial role in getting the Revising Existing Procedures On Reporting via Technology (REPORT) Act, which changes how electronic service providers submit reports to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) when they are alerted of violations involving sexual exploitation of children online, into law last May.