[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 120 (Wednesday, July 24, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Page S5398]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

  SA 3087. Mr. PAUL submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by 
him to the bill S. 2073, to amend title 31, United States Code, to 
require agencies to include a list of outdated or duplicative reporting 
requirements in annual budget justifications, and for other purposes; 
which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows:

       In lieu of the matter proposed to be inserted, insert the 
     following:

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Kids Online Safety and 
     Privacy Act''.

     SEC. 2. 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 subtitle 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. 3. AGE VERIFICATION STUDY AND REPORT.

       (a) Study.--The Secretary of Commerce, in coordination with 
     the Federal Communications Commission and the 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.
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