House subcommittee advances parental consent bill for minors' data
A House Energy and Commerce subcommittee advanced a bill requiring parental consent for social media platforms to process data of users under 16, after removing a proposed ban on accounts. The amended bill passed by voice vote despite Democratic opposition. Sponsor Erin Houchin said it puts parents in charge and left open the possibility of a future ban.
The amended GUARDIAN Act now focuses solely on parental consent for data processing of users under 16, dropping an outright account ban. It allows consent revocation and requires fresh approval after major platform design changes. Parents may also download a full record of their child’s data if they choose account deletion. Enforcement falls to the FTC and states, with an 18-month delay before rules take effect.
The bill’s advancement follows a separate bipartisan KIDS Act that passed the House in June but awaits Senate action. Sponsor Erin Houchin framed the measure as closing loopholes in that earlier legislation, while acknowledging a future ban remains possible, citing Australia’s approach. Democrats objected that the data-download provision could harm teens in unsafe homes and raised concerns about age-verification methods like government ID or facial scans.
This measure could reshape how minors interact online, shifting control from platforms to parents. Supporters argue it empowers families, but critics worry it may isolate vulnerable teens, particularly LGBTQ+ youth, and expose private communications to unsupportive parents. Widespread age verification could also raise privacy risks for all users. The bill’s fate in the Senate remains uncertain, and its interaction with the pending KIDS Act could determine whether protections are strengthened or fragmented.