Online Safety Measures for Children Face Broad Opposition Lobby

Congressional efforts to strengthen children’s safety and privacy online amid a youth mental health crisis are running into opposition from lobbyists who warn legislative proposals would be counterproductive.

“What is so frustrating here is that the special interests, these big tech platforms, have outsized influence, and parents and kids are just kind of left out there to grapple with the harms of mental health concerns and anxiety,” said Rep. Kathy Castor (D-Fla.), who’s introduced a child privacy bill (H.R. 2801). “It’s just so overdue for some action by the Congress.”

Advocates for kids’ mental health have decried social ...