SPRINGFIELD, ILLUS (WICS) — This morning, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin participated in a press conference at the Sangamon County Child Advocacy Center to discuss safety measures to protect children while using the Internet.
When children gain access to the internet, they are more likely to be exposed to bullying and abuse. By 2023, over 36 million cases of child sexual abuse due to the internet have been reported.
Durbin said that for decades, big tech companies like Amazon, Meta and Apple have faced no consequences for lacking safety precautions. To change that, the Senate passed the Kids Online Safety and Privacy Act last month to ensure that big tech companies are held accountable and create safety measures for the children of the future.
Senator Durbin said the best way to control big technology companies is through lawsuits.
“This essentially means that if my daughter or granddaughter is being exploited online, I tell the big tech company: Take it away, and if they refuse, I’ll sue them,” Durbin said. “… The laws we pass, we let the Federal Trade Commission decide how to enforce that. That’s good, but it’s not as effective as a lawsuit.”
If the bill is passed by the House of Representatives and signed by the President, it will also prevent platforms from collecting personal information from anyone under the age of 16.
