NC attorney general joins bipartisan push against proposed internet safety bill

RALEIGH, NC (WWAY) — North Carolina Attorney General Jeff Jackson has joined a bipartisan coalition of attorneys general urging Congress to reject a federal bill they say would weaken protections for children online and shield technology companies from accountability.

Jackson and attorneys general from 43 other states and territories sent a letter to congressional leaders opposing the Kids Internet and Digital Safety Act, known as the KIDS Act, H.R. 7757.

According to Jackson’s office, the proposed legislation would override existing state laws addressing online harms to children, including laws covering social media platforms, online gaming, obscenity and artificial intelligence chatbots.

“This bill says tech platforms have no legal duty to protect children,” Jackson said in a statement. “We already have laws in North Carolina that hold tech companies accountable for harming kids, and this bill would wipe them out and replace them with almost nothing.”

Jackson’s office argues the bill would prevent states from enforcing stronger internet safety laws while giving the federal government authority over enforcement. The attorneys general also contend the legislation would not require companies to verify users’ ages and would explicitly state that platforms have no legal responsibility to protect children online.

The coalition raised concerns about provisions involving artificial intelligence, saying the bill would exempt some chatbot functions if they are considered incidental to a platform’s primary purpose. The attorneys general also criticized language they say would allow companies to conduct market and product research involving minors.

Jackson has previously pushed for stronger online protections for children. In recent months, he has called on technology companies to address concerns involving artificial intelligence products, deepfake intimate imagery and location-sharing features on social media platforms.

The North Carolina Department of Justice is also pursuing lawsuits against Meta and TikTok over alleged harms to minors. Jackson and Utah Attorney General Derek Brown have additionally formed a bipartisan artificial intelligence task force focused on developing safeguards to protect the public, particularly children.

The attorneys general signing the letter represent a bipartisan group from states and territories across the country, including South Carolina, Tennessee, Ohio, Utah, Virginia, Washington and California.