Child online safety bill sailed through Senate but hits rough water in House

The House is not planning to take up Senate-passed legislation to protect children from potentially harmful online content without addressing Republican concerns that the bill could lead to censorship or other unintended consequences.

Changes won’t come easily. House aides and outside stakeholders told The Washington Times that it’s unclear whether lawmakers can negotiate a compromise on an issue they largely agree is important but tricky to legislate.

“There’s support across the board for high-level policy goals around keeping kids safe, protecting kids online,” said Mark Brennan, a partner at Hogan Lovells and leader of the firm’s technology regulatory team. “It’s in some ways a notable reflection of the problems with this legislation … that there are such a wide array of constituents that are expressing significant concerns.”